This Pongal, Tamil cinema isn't just selling tickets - it's signalling the opening moves of the 2026 assembly election.

January 9 and 10 promise more than the usual festive box-office fireworks in Tamil Nadu. They mark a cinematic clash freighted with political meaning - one that could shape the narrative heading into the 2026 Assembly elections. On one side is Jana Nayagan, Vijay's much-hyped "final film" before he focused entirely and only on winning the 2026 assembly elections. On the other hand is Parasakthi, a title that echoes with the ideological thunder of Dravidian politics itself. This is not merely a contest between two films; it is a proxy battle for political space, symbolism, and supremacy.

At the centre of this confrontation stands Vijay - the undisputed "X factor" in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. His entry into politics has disrupted a system long defined by the DMK-AIADMK binary that has dominated the state since 1967. By positioning the 2026 election as a direct contest between the DMK and his own Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay has declared his intent to rewrite the rules of the game.

Importantly, Vijay is not an ideological disruptor. He has publicly endorsed Dravidian ideology and embraced its political traditions. His challenge is not to the idea of Dravidianism itself but to the electoral dominance of the two parties that have historically claimed ownership of it. That makes him a far more dangerous challenger - an insider with mass appeal, not an outsider railing against the system.

Jana Nayagan, which Vijay has declared will be his final film, appears tailor-made for this political moment. Early........

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