geopolitics
Before Becoming CM, Tamil Nadu Politician Vijay Starred in Films That Normalised Harassment
Indian Express•Published: Oct 12, 2026 08:13 AM IST
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Long before entering politics as a purported proponent of women's rights, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay starred in numerous films that heavily relied on misogyny, sexualisation, and public body-shaming of women. Critics have highlighted specific scenes from his past filmography, such as the 2005 movie 'Sivakasi', where his character publicly shamed a female lead for her clothing and blamed women's attire for sexual harassment.
- Sivakasi Clothing Scene: In the 2005 film, Vijay's character publicly lectured Asin for wearing sleeveless tops and shorts, claiming men grope women due to such modern clothing choices.
- Villu Commodification: The 2009 action-comedy 'Villu', directed by Prabhu Deva, heavily commodified and sexualised women while recycling lazy tropes from earlier blockbusters.
- Contrasting Political Persona: Reviewers note a stark hypocrisy between Vijay's current political messaging advocating gender equality and the blatant misogyny normalised in his earlier cinematic career.
- Derivative Plotlines: Films like 'Villu' were criticized as shoddy, uninspired rip-offs of earlier hits like 'Pokkiri', utilizing repetitive dialogues and low-effort action sequences.
The Context & Background
These controversial cinematic tropes reflect a broader historical trend in Tamil cinema where mainstream heroes routinely delivered regressive lectures on female modesty, objectified female leads, and relied on cheap, derivative plotlines.
Why it matters:Examining the past cinematic output of prominent political figures reveals how popular culture historically propagated harmful societal norms. This retrospective look highlights the deep disconnect between the regressive tropes once celebrated in mainstream cinema and the modern political rhetoric of empowerment embraced by contemporary leaders.
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