IN THE rich tapestry of South Indian public life, the transition from the silver screen to the seat of power is a cultural phenomenon. For decades, the boundary between celluloid heroics and legislative leadership has been porous, driven by a unique blend of charismatic stardom and deep-rooted regional identity. The blueprint for this crossover was laid in the mid20th century by M Karunanidhi (aka Kalaignar), M G Ramachandran (MGR) in Tamil Nadu and N T Rama Rao (NTR) in Andhra Pradesh. Karunanidhi, though a titan of politics, first conquered the world of cinema as a revolutionary screenwriter. Over five decades, he transitioned from being a scriptwriter to a five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. MGR, a superstar who personified the “man of the masses”, became Chief Minister in 1977, cementing a legacy of welfare that lasted decades.

 

Following him, his protege J Jayalalithaa transitioned from a celebrated actress to a formidable political force known as ‘Amma’. In Andhra Pradesh, NTR achieved the nearly impossible. Often cast as Krishna or Rama on screen, he formed the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982 and became Chief Minister within nine months, riding a wave of “Telugu pride”. While the titans dominated the early years, Vijayakanth, affectionately known as “Captain”, carved out a unique space in Tamil Nadu. In 2005, he launched the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam as a direct alternative to the established DMK and AIADMK. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, brothers Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan both entered politics, but it was ‘Power Star’ Kalyan who proved his resilience, suffering electoral setbacks for nearly a decade. It paid off spectacularly in 2024.

 

He ascended to the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi, who launched the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) in 2008 and managed to capture less than 18 per cent vote share in subsequent elections, eventually gave up on full-time politics. Other Telugu stars worth mentioning are Nandamuri Balakrishna, a sitting MLA from Hindupur, carries forward his father NTR’s legacy with fierce regional loyalty. Jayaprada served as a two-term MP, famously winning in UP after a stint in the Rajya Sabha. Karnataka too has a long history of actors entering politics. Of them is Anant Nag, who is often referred to as “gentleman politician”. Unlike many stars who rely on “larger-than-life” heroism, Nag’s political journey was built on intellectual depth and grassroots governance.