Lights, camera, action for Vijay as Tamil Nadu CM

Ending the stalemate in Tamil Nadu, superstar Kollywood actor Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, alias Thalapathy Vijay, was sworn in as the Chief Minister (CM) of India’s southernmost State last Sunday. His eventual assumption of the coveted post was delayed as the film star’s party, TVK, was unable to win a sufficient number of seats at the polls to claim a clear majority in the State Assembly. Nevertheless, Vijay was able to muster 120 seats (surpassing the required majority of 118) in the legislative council with the help of the Congress Party, two Communist parties, and two other regional parties.

For decades, many celebrities from Kollywood cinema have seamlessly transitioned to State-level politics after accumulating wealth and fame from their primary vocation. Vijay is emblematic of this legacy associated with the politics of India’s Tamil State. Many from older generations have compared the new CM with the late M.G. Ramachandran (aka MGR), the legendary Tamil film superstar who dominated Tamil Nadu State politics and served as CM of the Tamil heartland of the world’s most populous country for a decade. Jayalalithaa Jayaram, a popular South Indian film actress who reigned as CM for more than 14 years across six terms, exemplifies the dominance of star power in the political battlefield of the southern State in more recent history.

The two aforementioned celebrity CMs championed populist policies that gained endorsement, particularly from less affluent social segments, while they were in power. Freebie politics, or short-term handouts, are a fundamental element of this legacy of populism in Tamil Nadu. MGR is frequently cited as a foundational figure in the evolution of freebie or welfare politics in India, particularly within Tamil Nadu. In 1982, MGR launched the Free Midday Meal Scheme, a school lunch initiative that later expanded into a massive State-wide project providing free hot meals to schoolchildren and impoverished people. Later, the Sri Lankan-born film star embarked on initiatives such as providing one job per family, free toothpaste for children, as well as free footwear. However, MGR’s populist welfare measures were viewed with great disdain by some economists and pundits. The celebrity political leader’s penchant for distributing freebies from State coffers was blamed for a lack of investment in infrastructure development as well as poor industrial development during that period.

In keeping with the welfare politics of the Tamilian State, the new CM’s manifesto too included a slew of freebies, including an INR 2,500 monthly grant for women heads of households and six free LPG cylinders for every family. The manifesto also promises INR 4,000 in monthly financial support for one million unemployed graduates. Economists have questioned whether such extensive welfare schemes can be financially managed by the State Government. Reports suggest all of Vijay’s pledged freebies could cost Tamil Nadu nearly INR 10 billion annually.

Nevertheless, political and social analysts have castigated extravagant welfarism in Tamil Nadu and recognised it as a desperate vote-grabbing gimmick. Excessive welfare dominance is also perceived as prioritising short-term political gains at the expense of long-term socio-economic development.

Apart from people in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lankans too would be keenly following the actions of the film star-turned-politician, as the Colombo-New Delhi relationship has been influenced by developments in Tamil Nadu over the years. Already, Thalapathy has asked New Delhi to take diplomatic steps to secure the release of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and to retrieve their fishing equipment.

Tamil Nadu politicians have used the issue of Indian fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan waters like a beggar’s sore for political expediency. Unfortunately, indications are that tensions and disagreements over poaching by Indian fishermen could escalate due to the celluloid hero’s natural fondness for stardom. How Colombo, led by an administration that is relatively inexperienced and seemingly indecisive on diplomacy and international relations, responds to the theatrics of Tamil Nadu’s new political superstar remains to be seen. Taking everything into account, interesting times lie ahead for Colombo and Tamil Nadu.