Vijay’s first TVK maanaadu: 5 memorable things he said about leaving cinema, decent politics, social change and more

Actor Vijay announced his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in February. He unveiled the party flag in August and the Election Commission officially registered the party in September. On Sunday, Vijay reached a new milestone as he held his first moonaadu (public conference) in Tamil Nadu to discuss leaving his film career for politics. (Also Read: Suriya, Sivakarthikeyan, Vijay Sethupathi and Jayam Ravi send best wishes to Vijay for his first political rally)

Dressed in a white shirt and beige trousers (like a real politician), Vijay wore a red and yellow scarf in his party’s colors as he arrived at the venue, flanked by security. In a dramatic moment, he walked up a ramp through the crowd to the podium and delivered a fiery speech that made his political position clear. Here are five lessons from his speech.

‘I threw away my career’

Vijay has had an illustrious career since the early 1990s and is a superstar in Tamil Nadu. After doing almost 70 films, the actor surprised everyone with his decision to leave cinema for politics at the peak of his career. Addressing the audience, he said, “I threw away my career at its peak, I threw away my reward… I am here as your Vijay, let’s walk with faith, let’s walk with hope.”

‘Not for cash or social media’

Vijay also slammed those holding mass gatherings with an ulterior motive, stating that despite the huge turnout, none were just for online influence. “This is not a social media meeting. This is a mass gathering, not for money, but for a good cause,” he said passionately, adding: “And there is no turning back now.”

‘Politics is a battlefield’

The actor said he takes politics seriously but would also handle it with a touch of humor. “Politics is not a film field, it is a battlefield. It’s serious. Whether it is dealing with a snake or politics… if we decide to tackle it seriously and with a touch of humor, only then can we tolerate and cope with adversaries,” he said.

‘Koothadi is not a blemish’

Vijay also discussed how people dismiss actors who enter politics as ‘koothadi’ (drama artist). “I am not the only one who is called koothadi. When someone enters the cinema field, he is told that his face is wrong, his hair is wrong and he is humiliated. They are still waiting for an opportunity to work,” he said, adding, “Films are not just about dance and songs; they are instruments for social change. I ask if Koothadi is a slur or an insult. The word speaks of values, politics and truth.”

‘Not out of fear or lack of courage’

Vijay made it clear that he would like to avoid naming names while discussing the state’s politics – not out of fear, but out of decency. “I have left out names, not out of fear or lack of courage. We are not here to name people and attack them with foul language. We want to practice decent politics with people’s support, and take a decent approach even if we attack ideological or political enemies,” he said.

What’s next for Vijay?

Vijay will soon be shooting for a political action thriller directed by H Vinoth, touted to be his last. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, Priyamani, Mamitha Baiju and Monisha Blessy. The actor will contest the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.