Can Vijay’s TVK repeat the TN miracle in Kerala? 'Here, we watch actors only in films'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's massive victory in the state Assembly elections on May 4 has created a ripple effect in neighbouring Kerala. Reports suggest that the actor-politician's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is already working on an expansion plan into the south-western state, especially in its border districts with Tamil Nadu, such as Wayanad, Palakkad and Kollam.

Also read: Can TN's new actor-CM Vijay turn euphoria into governance? | AI With Sanket

Though there has been no official announcement yet, TVK sources in Kerala have said preparations are underway for a major launch in the state.

Vijay enjoys a huge fan following in Kerala, particularly among youngsters who have embraced his films for years.

The TVK, which emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu polls and formed the government with the help of other parties, now appears keen to convert the celebrity leader's popularity into political support.

Although many in Kerala believe politics in the state functions very differently from Tamil Nadu. The state also went to the polls along with Tamil Nadu and some others, and the Congress-led United Democratic Front returned to power with an emphatic majority, replacing the Left Democratic Front.

'In Kerala, actors are not seen as politicians'

Murugan, one of the people interviewed, said actors are not usually viewed as politicians in Kerala.

“That cannot happen here. Actors are not seen as politicians here. They may have a lot of fans, but people have not fully supported them politically,” he said.

Also read: Vijay's next frontier: TVK quietly begins Kerala expansion

He, however, conceded that Vijay could still be an exception because of his massive popularity. “Vijay may win because he has a huge fan base here. Maybe in the next election, if Vijay contests as a candidate, there is a chance he could win,” he said.

Shalu, another person The Federal spoke with, also felt that political success for actors would not happen quickly in Kerala. “Maybe. But it may not happen so fast here. Vijay became chief minister within just two years, right? Things may not happen that fast here,” she said.

Kerala model

Tamil Nadu has a long history of film stars turning into powerful political leaders. Former chief ministers Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, and now Vijay, successfully built political movements around their cinematic popularity.

Kerala, however, has largely maintained a clear distinction between cinema and politics.

“Those who have been in politics from the beginning understand politics. Actors only know how to act. In politics, actions are what matter. In Kerala, there is no way this can happen,” said Vinu, another member of the public.

Abdul Khadar pointed to Kerala’s strong political traditions dominated by the LDF and the UDF.

“This is a place dominated by communist and Congress parties, so there is not much space for actors in politics here,” he said, adding that Kerala voters make decisions based on politics rather than cinema fame.

However, Tamil Nadu also saw the political power getting shifted between the two Dravidian parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, over the decades before the TVK broke the pattern this time.

Kerala also saw celebs contesting 2026 polls

The 2026 Kerala Assembly elections witnessed a rise in the number of actors and television personalities entering the political arena. Several parties, including the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party's allies, fielded familiar faces from cinema and television.

One of the names discussed widely was actor and television personality Ramesh Pisharody, who won from Palakkad this year on the Congress's ticket. Yet, despite celebrity recognition, electoral outcomes remained mixed.

Also read: Why CM Vijay is clinging to TN's ultimate political tradition, holding home portfolio

Some actors, such as Suresh Gopi, Mukesh and K B Ganesh Kumar, have found success in Kerala politics, but observers note that they built their careers through years of political work and grassroots engagement rather than relying solely on stardom.

Dharmaraj, another commoner The Federal interviewed, stressed that Kerala voters value public service more than popularity.

“Here in Kerala, you have to do good things to come to power. You have to help people in need; only then can you win. Otherwise, there is no chance at all,” he said.

'We just watch movies, that's it'

Sathyaraj, another interviewee, argued that Kerala does not experience “cinema madness” in the same way Tamil Nadu does.

“We just watch movies, that’s it, but we don’t support actors becoming politicians,” he said.

One person named Ravindran echoed a similar view, saying Kerala voters clearly separate cinema from politics.

“Vijay has a huge fan base, and that is one of the reasons why he won. But here, things are different,” he said.

What experts say

Political observers say Kerala’s highly aware electorate focuses more on issues, alliances and grassroots political structures than celebrity appeal. Even popular Malayalam actors such as Mammootty and Mohanlal have stayed away from electoral politics.

Also read: From silver screen to state Secretariat: The stunning rise of CM Vijay

Experts also note that political parties increasingly field celebrities because social media-driven campaigns reward instant visibility and quick public attention. However, sustaining a political career requires much more than popularity.

As the TVK prepares to spread its political footprint beyond Tamil Nadu, the central question now is whether Vijay’s on-screen charisma can overcome Kerala’s deeply rooted political culture, or whether voters in the state will continue to keep films and politics separate.

The content above has been transcribed from video using a fine-tuned AI model. To ensure accuracy, quality, and editorial integrity, we employ a Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) process. While AI assists in creating the initial draft, our experienced editorial team carefully reviews, edits, and refines the content before publication. At The Federal, we combine the efficiency of AI with the expertise of human editors to deliver reliable and insightful journalism.