Decoding the Politics of Tamil Nadu Through the Silver Screen

Tamil Nadu has always been ruled by leaders who have a link to the film industry.

Tamil Actors are popularly known to use their demi god status to become iconic political leaders.

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After the demise of one of India’s most iconic women, a towering figure and popularly known to the tamil masses as Amma, the political state of the region has gone haywire.

The story of Tamil Nadu politics is akin to that of a film poster in Tamil Nadu. That’s right! If you think the concept is analogically correct, it is literally as well. The movies in Tamil Nadu has more color, content, appeal, drama, length than anywhere else in the world. They are in a league of their own.

Tamil Nadu has, in the past few decades, been ruled by leaders who have strong links to the film industry.

MG Ramachandran, the patriarch of the current ruling party of Tamil Nadu, AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham), was the first of his kind to successfully translate silver screen fantasy into hardcore political reality. Similarly, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi and AIADMK matriarch J Jayalalithaa have also been successful in becoming top politicians after being veterans in the cinema world.

Recently, Tamil cinema’s biggest stalwarts also joined in the game of thrones: Superstar Rajinikanth and Ulaga Nayagan (world artist) Kamal Haasan came out in the public eye to express their discontent with the colossal corruption charges against the bureaucrats at the top, and the failing administration that couldn’t handle critical issues in the state. In a recent meeting with his fan club members in Tamil Nadu, the iconic Superstar hinted at taking the political plunge.

With the recent controversy over the movie Mersal, it’s quite evident that the movie’s hero Vijay is mulling over making his political entry. With three of Tamil cinema’s biggest superstars hinting at taking the big call, the most nail-biting pages of the Dravidian books are yet to be scripted.

Video Editors: Mohd Ibrahim and Mohd Irshad