A Tamil action film made in 2005 in Tamil Nadu featured Vijay, sharing screen time with actor Benjamin.
According to his own man, Vijay, then leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, can be said to rise as much before and above the historic politician, actor-politician M. G. Ramachandran, on the whole. Benjamin's remarks came following heavy media coverage of Vijay's political journey in Tamil Nadu.
Benjamin once complimented Vijay in an interview, mentioning his humility, discipline, and the bond and closeness between him and the public in the state. He pointed out that the actor has always cared deeply for the people around him and has leadership qualities that he thinks might help him become dominant in the state’s politics.
Vijay’s increasing support among young people and prospective first-time voters sets him apart from many modern political leaders, Benjamin said. He also shared with me that TVK stirs up the same kind of enthusiasm that has brought back some of the energy of a wave sparked by MGR, one of Tamil Nadu’s most important political icons.
“Vijay has the potential to reach even higher heights than ‘MGR,’” Benjamin says, noting the actor’s mass appeal and lack of image pollution. The change of Vijay from box-office icon to Tamil Nadu politician has been a topic of heated discussion at the centre of Tamil Nadu politics.
Many believe his appeal to young audiences will greatly determine the election to come, especially as TVK‘s coverage grows in the hands of the people around him. The actor is already getting into the habit of establishing TVK within the confines of an education-oriented, social welfare campaign for the common man and an anti-corruption campaign.
His speeches and political-action programs have gone down well, with great enthusiasm, and have made his politics much more of a topic of speculation in the upcoming talks. Vijay, in response to MGR’s remarks, and fans of Vijay feted Benjamin on social media, with many comparing the incident to MGR making a comment.
Its adherents also uploaded excerpts from Thirupaachi's film and the back-and-forth of Vijay and Benjamin to Facebook, reminiscing about the love affair of the pair in the beloved movie.
As Vijay navigates his history in the movie industry against his increasingly complex political career, everyone's expectations of what that TVK chief will do to Tamil Nadu's political horizon in the years ahead increase in the coming years.
