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.
Founded in February 2024, the just over two-year-old TVK has managed a cinematic transformation and won an impressive number of seats (108) in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in its 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
