Joseph Vijay’s TVK | A star who stormed Tamil Nadu politics

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay. Illustration by R. Rajesh

In Tamil Nadu, the reel is often indistinguishable from the real thing, especially in politics. In a state where people have gotten used to film turning into politics and vice versa, fittingly, the web Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) an AI-generated war scene runs in the background. The ground shakes as the general arrives on horseback and dismounts, in a classic opening scene for the hero, the savior, the commander who defeats all evil — C. Joseph Vijay.

A little over two years old, TVK, which was founded in February 2024, has mastered the cinematic transformation and won an impressive number of seats (108) in Tamil Nadu Assembly in his political debut. Essentially emerging from Vijay’s extensive fan network, TVK has since declared itself a secular organization rooted in the Tamil experience and committed to social justice and equality.

Published – 10 May 2026 01:15 IST