‘Thalapathy’ at 52: First Birthday as Chief Minister Marks Another Milestone for Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay turned 52 on Monday, marking his first birthday after taking office as the state's chief minister last month. The occasion witnessed greetings from leaders across political parties, highlighting Vijay's growing stature in Tamil Nadu politics following his historic electoral victory earlier this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the wishes, posting a message on X and praying for Vijay's long and healthy life. Former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin , AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami , BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran , Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan , and several other political leaders also extended their greetings.

In his message, Stalin wished Vijay good health and strength to continue serving the people. Palaniswami hoped that the chief minister would enjoy a long life dedicated to public service. Nagenthran also wished Vijay continued success in serving the people of Tamil Nadu.

Greetings poured in from leaders across party lines, including TMC (Moopanar) founder G.K. Vasan , who said Vijay had brought a significant transformation to Tamil Nadu politics and expressed hope that his government would reflect the aspirations of the people. AIADMK leader Gayathri Raghuram praised Vijay's determination and expressed confidence in his efforts to combat corruption, improve women's safety and accelerate the state's development.

The birthday assumes special significance as it comes just weeks after Vijay completed one of the most remarkable political transitions in the state's history. After launching Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in 2024, the popular actor entered electoral politics and led his party to a stunning performance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

TVK emerged as the single largest party, ending the decades long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in state politics. Though the party fell short of an outright majority in the 234 member Assembly, Vijay successfully formed a coalition government with the support of the Congress, Left parties, VCK and IUML. He was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 10, 2026 .

Born on June 22, 1974 , to filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekar and Shoba Chandrasekar , Vijay spent more than three decades as one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars before making his political debut. Popularly known as "Thalapathy" , he built a massive fan following that eventually evolved into a political support base.

As wishes poured in from political leaders, supporters, film personalities and party workers across the state, Vijay's 52nd birthday became more than a personal celebration. It also symbolised the extraordinary journey of a cinema icon who has now emerged as one of the most influential political leaders in Tamil Nadu.