How Vijay’s Movies Laid Groundwork for His Political Debut
He is now just a few days away from reaching the top execution position in Tamil Nadu.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay's political performance in 2026 had been a work in progress. When he was at the top of his game in the film industry, particularly in the 2010s, he didn't fritter away his superstardom doing empty action movies.
Rather, he used his movies to spotlight social and political issues. Observers now see a clear pattern in his filmography: a deliberate series of narratives that critique systemic failures, champion the marginalized, and question power structures.
Take Kaththi (2014), where Vijay portrayed a dual role that brought the agrarian crisis into sharp focus. The film exposed the desperation of farmers battling water scarcity, exacerbated by corporate greed and illegal diversion of resources. While critics at that time opined that it didn't offer any real solutions, it helped Vijay be perceived as a star with his heart in the right place.
Mersal (2017) targeted the private healthcare sector. Vijay’s character unraveled the exploitative practices of profit-driven hospitals. The film tried to ignite conversations about medical ethics and affordable treatment despite its hollow exploration of the issues at heart.
In Sarkar (2018), the superstar took on the murky world of electoral politics itself. The movie delved into voter manipulation, electoral fraud, and the controversial Section 49P, which deals with challenges to voter identity. Like most AR Murugadoss movies, this one was too far-fetched in how quickly the hero pulls off the impossible. Yet, it became a blockbuster in Tamil.
Bigil (2019) extended this social consciousness to the sports arena, exposing deep-rooted corruption, nepotism, and gender biases that hinder athletes from underprivileged backgrounds. Directed by Atlee Kumar, the film barely offered any realistic solution. Yet, Vijay's clean intent was liked by the audience.
Across these blockbusters, Vijay has repeatedly embodied the angry everyman challenging the status quo. Many say that they laid the groundwork for his extraordinary performance at the hustings. He is now just a few days away from reaching the top execution position in Tamil Nadu.
