Amit Shah to head South amid delimitation row; CM Vijay's wife drops divorce plea

5 hours ago

Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu before heading to Puducherry for official engagements and temple visits, with the timing fuelling speculation over possible NDA outreach as Chief Minister Vijay prepares to meet Tamil Nadu MPs on the contentious delimitation issue.

Transcript

00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.

00:04I'm Akshita Nandikopal getting you all the top stories that we're tracking this Friday evening.

00:08So we've got lots lined up for you as we track closely what's happening in the southern states.

00:14So let me tell you first up what to expect on the show.

00:17We'll be beginning with all of the dramatic developments that have come in from the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

00:22A face-off between Udeni Di Stalin and Chief Minister Vijay that played out in the Assembly over Kaveri.

00:28We'll get you all off those highlights of the heated debate that played out.

00:32Finally, what is Tamil Nadu's stand-up, Mekhi Datu and all that's happened.

00:35That will be broken down for you.

00:37Also on the show, on delimitation.

00:39The NDA has been counting on getting the DMK support.

00:42But for the first time, the DMK in an exclusive conversation with India Today, Udeni Di Stalin has confirmed,

00:48we've always opposed delimitation.

00:50We will continue to oppose delimitation.

00:53So clearly the DMK now making their stand clear.

00:56What does this mean for the NDA's push?

00:58We'll break that down for you.

00:59And finally at 6.30 this evening, we're getting you a special report on Dhanush the actor being the next

01:06perhaps in Tamil Nadu

01:07to enter into politics.

01:10Are we going to see another actor turned politician in Tamil Nadu?

01:13We'll break that down for you on a special broadcast at 6.30 this evening.

01:17I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal here at the Headlines.

01:23Days after U Republican lawmaker raises concerns over FCRA bill, India calls the legislation an internal matter.

01:31MEA highlights that even U.S. regulates flow of foreign funds.

01:38First images of Modi NDA MPs breakfast meet New Sena and NCPI MPs meet Prime Minister Modi.

01:46Modi expresses concern over parliamentary proceedings, says Uproar is denying new MPs opportunities to speak.

01:57It's day 14 of the students' protest in Ranchi.

02:00Government officials meet protesting students.

02:03Chief Minister Sorain assures the education system reforms amidst her.

02:12Heavy, unprecedented rainfall in the National Capital Region.

02:16Several areas report waterlogging.

02:18Temperature drops, but there's massive traffic snarls across.

02:23Met department says slight reduction in rainfall activity expected for tomorrow.

02:32At least six killed and several others injured after a 14-year-old student opens fire at a high school

02:39outside Bangkok.

02:40Thailand Prime Minister says the student had shown signs of stress linked to school.

02:57And let's get you all of the details first that's coming in of the third round of meeting that took

03:03place between Modi government and Meta officials.

03:05This time the meeting was with the tech team of Meta.

03:09Here's what we're picking up right now.

03:11Government officials have directed Meta to provide a compliance roadmap.

03:15A focus being kept on algorithm changes to curb propaganda and illicit materials on its various platforms.

03:22The government is also directed to ensure compliance with data localization norms and to fast-track removal of flagged content

03:29by government officials.

03:31Meta will ensure close coordination with, in fact, various of these sectors across departments of Government of India to control

03:39deepfake videos and morphed content.

03:41The technical team of Meta gave a presentation, in fact, to ministry officials earlier today.

03:47After their presentation, the government has listed out these particular points, saying this is what we want you to do.

03:54And perhaps also what the government is seeking is accountability and follow-ups to ensure that this is not something

04:01that is treated as a one-off,

04:03but that Meta ensures there is compliance throughout.

04:06Shivani Sharma is joining us with more details on this.

04:09Shivani, run us through really what has been the communication from the government to the tech team of Meta.

04:16Akshita, this happens to be the third day in a room when Meta has been summoned and the presentations are

04:22being sought.

04:23There are tough questions that Meta needs to answer and directives which the government is giving out.

04:27So today also there was a presentation that was given by the technical team of Meta.

04:32Yesterday we saw how the top officials from Meta, they had met the minister as well as the secretary.

04:37And today the technical team gave out the presentation.

04:39They have to explain the algorithms and what is the roadmap to take the corrective measures on the concerns that

04:49have been flanked by the ministry.

04:50This is not just about the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video, but also about the illicit content that

04:57circulates on the platforms.

04:58How soon it can be removed.

05:01That is what Meta needs to explain.

05:03Now the QRTs, the quick reaction teams need to work, the Meta's team need to work with the government officials

05:10whenever such content is there.

05:11Right.

05:12And it has to remove it as soon as possible.

05:14So they have to fast track and curb and ensure that no illicit material is there on their platforms.

05:21All right, Shivani, thanks very much for getting us those details, those highlights.

05:32The information just coming in is that Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

05:37And this is important because of all that we've been seeing on the delimitation bill and attempts by the NDA

05:43to reach out to parties in Tamil Nadu.

05:46Amid that, Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting Tamil Nadu tomorrow, followed by a visit to Puducheri as well.

05:52And while these meetings and in fact this visit will see a lot of official needs, there is a big

05:58question whether there will be an attempt by the Home Minister to reach out to parties in Tamil Nadu via

06:04the Tamil Nadu BJP.

06:06Let me bring in Aishwarya Paliwal for more details on this.

06:09Aishwarya, what's on the agenda when Home Minister Amit Shah visits Tamil Nadu tomorrow?

06:15Well, you know, one of the things that we will see the Home Minister doing, Akshwarya, is that he will

06:20be on a temple visit as well.

06:22So there are some temples that he will be visiting in the state of Tamil Nadu and then he will

06:27proceed to the state of Puducheri.

06:29But yes, you rightly pointed out, you know, we are seeing a tug of war at the moment between the

06:33Congress party on one side.

06:34Because from what I understand, the Congress party will also be meeting with the DMK leaders tomorrow in the state

06:40where the party stands as far as the delimitation bill is concerned.

06:45But we do understand that this is a crucial meeting, a crucial visit which is being done by the Home

06:51Minister.

06:51Because the timings are telling you that yes, there is an outreach which is being done.

06:55And the DMK at the moment still saying that they want to read the draft bill, they want to understand

07:00what exactly is written in it.

07:01At the moment, the DMK says maybe they will support the delimitation bill, maybe they will not.

07:06So the clarity from what I understand, the ND also looking at getting that clarity.

07:11The Congress also trying to get a sense from what the DMK at the moment is looking at.

07:16All right, thanks Aishwarya for those details.

07:17What we're picking up as we're flashing on our screens is that Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting Tiruvana

07:22Malay.

07:23And of course, the very famous temple in Tiruvana Malay district as well.

07:27But important because tomorrow is when you're going to be seeing Chief Minister Vijay meeting with all Tamil Nadu MPs

07:33on the issue of delimitation.

07:35We'll tell you about that in just a bit.

07:37I want to cut across to more breaking news coming in.

07:46Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's wife Sangeeta has now withdrawn her divorce petition.

07:50She'd filed this plea in February before a family court in Chennai's Chengalpet.

07:55Now, Sangeeta had appeared on video conference today for the hearing.

08:00She's confirmed that she does not wish to proceed further with the divorce case following which the court has disposed

08:05of the plea.

08:06It's led to speculations of whether there has been some mutual understanding that will lead to separation on both their

08:13terms or exactly what will play out next.

08:16But this is, in fact, a personal matter of the Chief Minister that has been playing out in the public

08:22sphere as well.

08:23Now, with the divorce petition being disposed of, the court has also told Sangeeta that if she wishes to once

08:30again file a plea, she can go ahead and do so.

08:34Chief Minister Vijay's wife Sangeeta is reportedly based in the UK currently.

08:38And while we've been seeing a lot of updates coming in on the court hearings, now she's formally withdrawn her

08:46petition.

08:54Now, it's been an interesting day in the Tamil Nadu Assembly where we saw one face-off, one showdown after

09:00another.

09:01Now, what we're going to play out for you is the war of words between Tamil Nadu Minister Adhav Arjuna

09:07and Leader of Opposition Uday Nidhi Stalin.

09:09Now, after a show, a war of words essentially over liquor businesses and also Adhav Arjuna accusing DMK of taking

09:18money from lottery companies,

09:20you had Uday Nidhi Stalin hitting back.

09:22And that's where the war of words turned rather personal with, in fact, Uday Nidhi asking Adhav Arjuna to ask

09:28his father-in-law why he gave funds to the DMK,

09:31referring to the fact that Adhav Arjuna's father-in-law is the lottery king, Martin.

09:36Now, Adhav Arjuna fired back, dragging in MK Stalin in a confrontation that drew reactions from both the ruling and

09:42opposition penches.

09:43Let's take a look at exactly what transpired.

10:34Let's have the war of words.

10:36.

11:06Manueng unpurippeanol alatri ngiraanga.

11:08Udai ini di yavaragul soro no,

11:10ye tolaayarang kodi irubba alatri niruvanamthu vanggan naangat tîmukanga.

11:13Abhulula soroittu overe.

11:14Abhulula soroittu overe.

11:15Dedeari irundha, Dedeari irundha, Dedeari irundha,

11:19Lati niruvanamthu seconds saalu nama.

11:21Todlaanam kodi irubba alatri muka saliniya varari kal genetlli vanggananna arakel.

11:24Dedeari irundha. Tola soroittu.

11:28Celelelele ngay.

11:29Naya eando tolilim ilu ibele.

11:31Naya eando tolili leem ilu.

11:33I want to tell you all the things you are going to say is what you are going to say?

11:36I hope you find him.

11:37I will tell you what your hood is going to say.

12:06Thank you very much.

12:08Thank you very much.

12:46This prompted a response from Chief Minister Vijay as well.

12:50And so you had the stage set for a face-off between Chief Minister Vijay and Leader of Opposition Udeniti

12:57Stalin.

12:57Let's take a look at that.

13:20The Meke Dattu Dam controversy once again dominated proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

13:26Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udeniti Stalin urged the government to convene an all-party meeting, saying Tamil Nadu must

13:37present a united front against Karnataka's plan to construct the Meke Dattu Dam across Kaveri River.

13:44The Meke Dattu Dam on the other side of Karnataka.

13:59Asking whether the visit would happen and whether an all-party meeting would finally be convened.

14:17The Meke Dattu Dam on the other side of Karnataka's plan to construct the Meke Dattu Dam on the other

14:28side of Karnataka's plan.

14:32The Meke Dattu Dam on the other side of Karnataka's plan to construct the Meke Dattu Dam on the other

14:41side of Karnataka's plan.

14:58Leader of the House Sengotian objected to the remarks, saying only the Meke Dattu issue should be discussed and accusing

15:05the opposition of introducing misleading political arguments.

15:14As Chief Minister Vijay rose to respond, AIADMK leader EPS demanded that party leaders also be allowed to participate in

15:23the debate.

15:27Replying to the opposition, Chief Minister Vijay dismissed the demand for an all-party meet.

15:33He appealed to parties not to politicise the issue, saying the government stand had already been conveyed to Prime Minister

15:40Narendra Modi through an official letter.

16:06Udenedi also accused the government of diverting attention from the Meke Dattu issue,

16:11saying the opposition had specifically sought discussions on the dam and farmers' loan waiver.

16:40Karnataka's plan

16:49PMK Millay's Soumya Anbhumani also backed the demand for an all-party meeting and urged the government to carry a

16:57united resolution to New Delhi.

17:00With Karnataka continuing to push the Mekedathu project and Tamil Nadu reiterating its opposition,

17:06the political battle over Kaveri has once again taken the centre stage.

17:13The government on what happens in Tamil Nadu Assembly, the law is very clear.

17:18We don't need anybody's permission to use excess water that is being drained into the sea and Supreme Court has

17:25happened.

17:26We are not taking one drop of water that is due for Tamil Nadu.

17:31Both should give and take and there should be a policy clearance by both the government and they should not

17:40drag the central government

17:41in the name of a water issue.

17:46With Pramod Anagayan Apoorvai Chinnai, Bureau Report, India Today.

17:59All right, let's cut across to breaking news that's coming in right now.

18:03You've got Rahul Gandhi who's taken on the government over the entire E-20 controversy.

18:09Rahul Gandhi has in fact said that the E-20 issue is very big and that the Congress will take

18:16this up in a massive way.

18:18According to him, E-20 fuel is destroying cars and lives.

18:23This is the video that you see in the middle of the screens that Rahul Gandhi has put out

18:27while in fact filling up the tank of his vehicle.

18:31He speaks of the impact of E-20 fuel.

18:34This has turned into a big full-blown political fight.

18:38Listen in to what the leader of opposition has said.

18:39This is a big issue of E-20 fuel.

18:43This is a big issue.

18:49Normally, we say that there is a big deal in the leaves.

18:55But it is a big deal in the leaves.

19:00Brothers and sisters, this is a matter of sequencing.

19:05In any campaign, we have to decide the sequence of affairs.

19:12Our problem right now is that there is so much corruption that there is a huge line in what we

19:19have to sequence.

19:19Don't worry, this issue, we're going to take it up in a massive way because this is destroying people's cars,

19:28destroying people's scooters, destroying people's lives and literally is stealing directly from them.

19:35So expect the political fight over E-20 now to heat up because Rahul Gandhi says the Congress will now

19:41pick this up,

19:41which means now going forward in Parliament too, we could see the E-20 issue being brought up.

19:46But let's switch back over to the big headlines coming in from Parliament on delimitation

19:52to also what's playing out in South over this.

19:54There's been a lot of talk that with the delimitation bill being reintroduced in Parliament,

20:00there is a possibility that DMK would actually back the bill.

20:04They've now, however, cleared the air, making it very, very clear that while they were always against it,

20:09they will continue to oppose the bill.

20:11In this exclusive conversation with Anagar Keshav, the leader of opposition of Dededi Stalin,

20:15for the first time has stated that we will oppose delimitation.

20:19Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has called for a meeting with all Tamil Nadu MPs tomorrow on this.

20:33The battle over delimitation is once again heating up and the battleground is Tamil Nadu.

20:39The centre has signalled its intention to reintroduce the delimitation bill,

20:45which it has linked to the implementation of women's reservation.

20:50This has reignited the political battle in the state of Tamil Nadu with apprehensions regarding the possible redistribution

20:57of Lok Sabha seats and repercussions on states.

21:04On Saturday, Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay called a meeting with the state's MPs,

21:09including DMK MPs, to discuss the issue.

21:15The TVK has urged its main rival to make their stance clear on attending the meeting.

21:37However, DMK has made its stance clear.

21:40In an exclusive conversation with India today,

21:43Tamil Nadu leader of opposition Udaya Nidhi Stalin

21:46Minsk no words in saying that DMK has opposed delimitation from the beginning

21:51and will continue to do so.

21:55Sir, the chief minister has called a meeting with all MPs about the delimitation.

21:59Yeah, our leader will take a decision very soon.

22:02The DMK welcomed delimitation.

22:04We have been against delimitation for the past one year.

22:06This government has just taken a stand now.

22:09But we have been against delimitation for the past one year.

22:12So we will not change our stance.

22:14But our leader will take a decision and he will announce it.

22:20Even during the monsoon session of Tamil Nadu Assembly,

22:23Udaya Nidhi stressed that DMK spearheaded the protest against delimitation

22:28and urged other opposition rules states' chief ministers to back them.

22:49A united opposition had defeated the bill in April,

22:53which proposed lifting the freeze on expanding the number of Lok Sabha seats.

22:59But after the Congress ditched the party to support Vijay's TVK in Tamil Nadu,

23:05the DMK exited the India bloc at the national level in a huff.

23:11After its exit from the India bloc and its breakaway with the Congress party,

23:16a lot of speculations were rife that the DMK has softened its stance on the delimitation

23:21and might tacitly support the BJP in passing the delimitation bill.

23:26And to all these speculations laying it to rest,

23:28Udaya Nidhi Stalin has debunked all that and said,

23:31the DMK would continue to oppose delimitation bill

23:34and will not allow the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu.

23:41And now all eyes are on how this political realignment plays out,

23:45both in Tamil Nadu and in Parliament.

23:49Pitanaka Keshav, Bureau Report, India Today.

23:54Let's get your images from across the country right now of the monsoons.

24:00These are images from Ludhiana of the massive infrastructure scare in Punjab,

24:05a sinkhole that opened up in Ludhiana after a section of the road collapsed.

24:15In Agra, a massive sinkhole opened up in the middle of the road, triggering panic among residents.

24:22Fortunately, no vehicles were passing when the road gave way.

24:29These are images that come in from Noida, where traffic came to a standstill.

24:34An ambulance carrying a patient was also stuck as a result of flooding.

24:43Heavy rains lashed to Delhi NCR, leaving several roads waterlogged and disrupting traffic across the region.

25:16Hello and welcome to this special broadcast.

25:19I'm Akshatan Anta Gopal and over the next 30 minutes, we're talking about actor Dhanush.

25:24Is he entering now into a new role, that of a politician?

25:28Because in Tamil Nadu, cinema has often been the first step to political power.

25:33After Chief Minister Vijay's blockbuster political rise, speculation is now swirling around another star.

25:40Is Dhanush simply making public appearances or quietly laying the groundwork for a political debut?

25:47What will his ideology look like?

25:49What's with the hints that he's been dropping?

25:51We'll break all of that down for you first in this report.

26:03Cinema has always been Tamil Nadu's biggest political incubator.

26:08And after Chief Minister Vijay rewrote the state's political script, every superstar is now under the scanner.

26:15Is Dhanush the next actor preparing to swap the silver screen for the political stage?

26:24In Tamil Nadu, politics rarely begins with a press conference.

26:29It begins with symbolism, a speech, a fan gathering, a carefully crafted public message and increasingly, all eyes are on

26:38Dhanush.

26:42In yet another instance that was highly politically gauged, the actor returned to his alma mater in Chennai to inaugurate

26:49a new academic block funded by him.

26:52But it wasn't the building that became the headline.

26:54It was the message.

26:59Dhanush lamented that many youngsters today can speak English but cannot read or write Tamil.

27:05His message was blunt.

27:07English may be useful, but your mother tongue comes first.

27:12One said,

27:14English is very hot.

27:16I speak English, why, didn't he, went?

27:22But Tamil is good.

27:24Now it's done.

27:26In any case of I'm doing anything, I can't even learn Tamil.

27:30You speak English, this is so much English.

27:32You speak English, you learn English.

27:32You learn Tamil, you learn Tamil.

27:35It's a very clear thing.

27:40and in Tamil Nadu language is never just language it's an identity it's an

27:45emotion and surely politics history explains why every such speech attracts

27:51attention MGR transformed superstardom into political dominance Jailalita

27:59followed Vijay Kant tried Kamal Hassan entered the arena and now chief

28:07minister see Joseph Vijay has once again proven that cinema remains the

28:11shortest route to Forts and George following Vijay's playbook Dhanush paid

28:16tribute to MGR echoing the symbolism seen during which is first political rallies

28:22that's exactly why Dhanush's recent moves are raising eyebrows not because he's

28:28announced a political party but because he's beginning to sound like a

28:31politician just days earlier Dhanush had urged his fans to channel their unity

28:36into public service

28:39yeah

28:40you know

28:41and the one to make it and the unity go for it

29:08Even the optics stood out, a sea of supporters, flags in the air, towering cutouts and a grand

29:15entry. That's where the speculation begins. Is Dhanush simply expanding his social outreach or

29:23quietly building a political constituency? Because Tamil Nadu's seen this script before,

29:28it seemed like a scene cut out from 2024. Fan clubs becoming political cadre, social service

29:35preceding political launches and symbolism holding more significance than formal announcement.

29:43Dhanush hasn't uttered the word politics. Not yet. But in Tamil Nadu, where cinema and politics

29:49have shared the same stage for decades, every speech, every slogan and every public appearance

29:55is read between the lines. And until Dhanush finally breaks his silence, that speculation

30:00will only grow louder. Bureau Report, India Today.

30:06Dhanush's possible political debut has sparked comparisons with his former father-in-law Rajnikanth.

30:12From the style statement to that spiritual imagery, the similarities haven't gone unnoticed.

30:18But can Dhanush recreate the political magic that Rajni almost did? Here's a look.

30:29Similarities galore. From the iconic look of all-white, to the Rudraksh, to the sign-off.

30:40The buzz over Dhanush's political entry has led to endless comparisons with his former father-in-law

30:46Rajnikanth. From the look, the same all-white outfit that Dhanush has now shifted to, to the

30:52Rudraksh around his neck, much like Rajni, who's known to be extremely spiritual and religious.

30:56And then of course, we all know Rajni's political track record, or the lack of it.

31:21Rajni has recently been in the headlines amid rumours of him being unhappy about Vijay becoming

31:26CM. So much so, that he even had to clarify.

31:31He was in the headlines since the day of July.

31:34He was the one that was rejected from me and was Holly.

31:39And he was the one that I was having to carry out.

31:46And in the headlines, we were also going to see a lot of things.

31:49We also came from the

31:53No one has no idea.

31:54I told them no one had no idea.

31:57If there was no idea,

31:59they didn't realize that they had their desire.

32:02If they had a chance to do a few years to achieve their goals,

32:05they were not sure if they had a chance to achieve their goals.

32:07They were not aware of their goals.

32:08They had a generation gap,

32:11so, there's 25 years difference.

32:13I can tell them.

32:15What we had compared to this because I didn't know this.

32:19It was not even a generation gap.

32:22It was not even a generation gap.

32:28And amidst all this buzz, his former son-in-law's potential political entry has got everyone

32:35wondering.

32:35Is Dhanush trying to mould his image in politics as the Rajini phenomenon that never was?

32:40You can use this as a sign, you can use this as a sign, and there is a power for

32:51unity.

32:53You can use this power to make a purpose.

32:59If you look at the photo or audio, you can see this.

33:02because if you want to see me,

33:05what you should do is all about this show?

33:08You should do this.

33:11Your city, your city, your house,

33:14your city and your city,

33:16your city, your city...

33:18You should stay here today.

33:20You can

33:21do that.

33:21They are all good for you.

33:24If you do that,

33:26I will make you a new job.

33:29You are saving me.

33:32From here.

33:37From here.

33:40From here.

33:42From here.

33:46Rajnikaan's wife made it clear the superstar has no political plans,

33:50but has launched her own citizens initiative with the same message that Dhanush now propagated.

33:56Makalmari is trying to bring the people together.

33:58It is trying to reform the people,

34:00give them some kind of knowledge to be together and harmony and such.

34:04Does this mean that there are possibility of Makalmari to become a political platform in the future?

34:08See, governance, unfortunately our country defines politics very differently.

34:14And also the current scenario of politics has been different.

34:17And right now we are focusing on its social cause.

34:20We will build it up as a social entity.

34:23Right now it will not be that.

34:24But we are creating local leaders.

34:27There will be people who come and work with us in every region.

34:29And if the strength, how it develops is the strength we want to give to this whole movement.

34:35And get all people to work for the nation, to the state, understand the importance of it.

34:41That's how it's going right now as a social.

34:43Is there a possibility for it to turn to a political movement?

34:45No, not right now.

34:46Right now, no.

34:46Not right now.

34:47Not right now.

34:49But let's be clear.

34:51Dhanush is no Rajni.

34:52He's a mega star, yes.

34:54But a superstar, not really.

34:56And so any political entry will be very different from what Rajni's could have been.

35:01Bureau Report, India Today.

35:04Tamil Nadu has a long, long history of film stars transforming their fan following into political power.

35:10From MGR and Jay Lalitha, to now of course Vijay, to Kamal Haasan, the silver screen has repeatedly shaped the

35:17state's politics.

35:18Now with buzz around actor Dhanush entering the political arena, here's a look at the stars who changed Tamil Nadu's

35:26political landscape forever.

35:55There are success stories of star power translating into vote, and there are not so successful attempts as well.

36:05Talapati Vijay is now the state's biggest example of that legacy.

36:12Sweeping to power on the back of overwhelming public support, the actor turned politician has rewritten Tamil Nadu's political script.

36:24Now the spotlight is shifting once again.

36:28Speculation is mounting that another superstar, actor Dhanush, could be the next to make the leap from the silver screen

36:35to the political stage.

36:41Trusting the people, Makkarni Dimayam or the M&M was launched by the versatile Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan, six years

36:52before in another February.

36:54But in the past six years, his party has failed abysmally in electoral politics.

37:03It lost all 37 seats it contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

37:11Kamal Haasan himself contested from the Coimbatore South constituency in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election and lost by a

37:21narrow margin to BJP's Vanati Srinivasan.

37:25But his box office success continued with Vikram and Kalki 2898 AD and many more in the pipeline.

37:37Much before Kamal Haasan, actor, director, producer of Tamil film industry, Vijaykant too launched his political party, Desiya Murapokh Dravid

37:47Karagam or the DMDK in 2006.

37:54In the early days, it enjoyed quite a success for Vijaykant to rise as the leader of the opposition in

38:01Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2011 when it formed an alliance with Jail Alita's AIA DMK.

38:12But soon after, Jail Alita and Vijaykant fell apart.

38:17Vijaykant formed an alliance with BJP in 2014.

38:21He lost his seat as the leader of the opposition.

38:26After his death in 2023, his widow Prem Lata looks after the party.

38:35Five years back, Tamil actor, producer and distributor, the grandson of M Karnanidhi joined politics.

38:44Udayanidhi Stalin became the youth wing secretary of DMK in 2019.

38:53He campaigned fiercely for his father and the party in the 2021 assembly elections.

39:00He won his debut poll campaign to become an MLA from CHEPOK Thiruvalli Keni Assembly constituency.

39:13In 1957, a 33-year-old writer for the first time entered the Madras State Assembly.

39:21He had come elected from the Kulli Talai constituency.

39:27Muthuvel Karuna Nidhi was a young boy full of wit and charm.

39:33His stories soon won him several admirers.

39:37One of them happened to be the Anna, or big brother, of Dravidian identity.

39:48It was Anna who encouraged the young lad to write more and speak at public gatherings as well.

39:59Muthuvel Karuna Nidhi formally entered the world of cinema at the age of 20.

40:07Contracted by the Jupiter Picture Company, Karuna Nidhi wrote his first film script for the film Rajkumari.

40:14And the lead actor of that film was M.G. Ramachandran, who would later become famous as MGR.

40:25And together, Anna Durai, Karuna Nidhi and MGR would dominate Tamil politics for the decades to come.

40:35In 1967, when the DMK came to power for the first time, Karuna Nidhi became Minister for Public Works.

40:46And two years later, in 1969, he became Chief Minister when his mentor and till then CM of Madras State,

40:56Anna Durai, died.

40:59The tussle for the top spot within the DMK was a straight fight between Karuna Nidhi and V.R. Dedin

41:08Jayain, who was the acting CM on the demise of Anna Durai.

41:15With the backing of MLAs like MGR, it was Karuna Nidhi who finally took control and became Chief Minister.

41:26But in 1972, in the biggest shake-up since Periyar and Anna Durai split more than two decades ago, MGR

41:37broke with Karuna Nidhi.

41:39It was possibly the biggest setback in Karuna Nidhi's political career.

41:49Also, MGR's popularity with the masses was such that till he lived, Karuna Nidhi and his DMK never managed to

42:00get back power in Tamil Nadu.

42:07Anna of Tamil politics, MGR Ramachandran was a congressman before he joined Anna Durai's DMK.

42:16He was a superstar of Tamil films.

42:21When he broke away from Karuna Nidhi, MGR formed his own party, AIA-DMK, and came to power in Tamil

42:30Nadu within five years of its inception.

42:33MGR became the Chief Minister.

42:35He was the first film star to assume the role in India in 1977.

42:41Jay Jay Lalita was a disciple of MGR.

42:45She was a superstar of Tamil films before she followed her mentor to the political arena and joined his party,

42:55AIA-DMK.

42:56Her rise was rapid.

42:58But at the time of MGR's death, war broke out in the party line over inheritance of his political legacy.

43:08And Jay Lalita firmly stood her ground, despite being shoved and heckled as she proclaimed herself as his political heir.

43:18In 1991, she became the Chief Minister, defeating Karuna Nidhi's DMK.

43:23In the next five years, as she continued to consolidate her power, she was criticized for her lavish way of

43:31life.

43:32In the next assembly election, Jay Lalita lost her seat and AIA-DMK was wiped out in the hustings of

43:411996.

43:43Jay Lalita by then was a seasoned politician and she led her party back to power in Tamil Nadu in

43:512001.

43:52Though she herself was debarred from contesting because of her corruption charges.

43:58After her acquittal, she retrieved her power and completed her term only to face defeat in the next assembly election.

44:07But it was short-lived, as Jay Lalita fell sick by end of 2016.

44:14And after two and a half months of hospitalization, she died, leaving a vacuum that AIA-DMK still has not

44:22been able to fulfill.

44:25Two years later, Karuna Nidhi also passed away.

44:29And with that, came down the curtain on a golden decade ruled by Anna, Amma and Kalainir.

44:41From cult classics to blockbuster entertainers, from national award-winning performances to even international projects,

44:49Danush has built one of the most diverse and celebrated filmographies in Indian cinema.

44:54And as the actor continues to add new milestones to an already remarkable career, is his next step going to

45:01be a political one?

45:03But for now, let's take a look at the film's performances and defining moments that shaped his extraordinary journey.

45:22Danush's journey in Indian cinema has been nothing shorter of extraordinary.

45:28The son of filmmaker Kasture Raja, he made his debut with Tuluwadu Illamei in 2002.

45:41But it was films like Pudupete, Polladavan and Yaredini Mohini that established him as one of Tamil cinema's most versatile

45:49actors.

45:54His big breakthrough came with Adu Kalam in 2011, a performance that earned him his first National Film Award for

46:01Best Actor.

46:23Over the years, Danush has built an enviable filmography effortlessly balancing commercial hits with critically acclaimed performances.

46:32Films like Maria, Velaela Pattadari, Kodi, Vada Chennai, Asura, Karnan, Thirichit Rambalum, Vaati and Captain Miller showcased his incredible range.