TVK’s Vijay likens criticism against him to attacks faced by MGR

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor Vijay, on Monday (February 2, 2026), mocked the DMK and other political parties for repeating the same criticisms — that he is a political novice and a “cardboard knife” (atta kathi in Tamil) — that were earlier levelled against former Chief Minister and actor M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) when he launched the AIADMK.

Speaking during the second anniversary celebrations of the party’s founding at Panaiyur near Chennai, Mr. Vijay recalled an interview given by MGR on radio in 1977, in which he reportedly said that the AIADMK was founded to wipe away the tears that came to his eyes when he thought about how “certain people” had taken over the place of C.N. Annadurai (DMK founder and former Chief Minister).

“Similarly, after 2017 and 2021, Tamil people wept thinking about those who are currently occupying positions once held by Kamarajar, Arignar Anna and MGR. TVK is a party that was started to wipe those tears,” he said.

Mr. Vijay said MGR’s AIADMK was mocked and ridiculed even after the party won the 1977 elections.

“Now, those who say MGR had a lot of political experience are the same people who once criticised him as a political novice, called him a ‘cardboard knife’, and said he would not oppose Delhi. Not just MGR, they did not even spare his fans, saying they fell for glitz and glamour. Everybody knows what people did,” he said.

Urging critics to stop using what he described as outdated arguments, Mr. Vijay said similar remarks had been made even against former Chief Minister Kamarajar, questioning what he knew about literature.

He sought to frame the political contest (during the upcoming Assembly election in Tamil Nadu) as one between TVK, the DMK, and political parties “under the leadership of the BJP”.

Mr. Vijay also rejected opinion polls that claimed TVK had a presence only in urban areas and small towns, and not in villages.

TVK, the whistle-blower in T.N. politics

“The whistle symbol has reached everywhere. My mother, brothers and sisters — nobody can stop them from voting for TVK. Nobody can buy those votes from them, as they consider me their own blood,” he said.

Stating that TVK was the whistle-blower in Tamil Nadu politics, Mr. Vijay said, “The evil and corrupt forces should run away hearing our whistles.”