Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated Indian actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay after the latter officially became the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu following a landmark election victory.
In a Facebook post shared on May 12, Anwar described Vijay as his “friend” and praised the actor’s rise from cinema icon to political leader.
“I warmly congratulate my friend Vijay on being elected Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,” Anwar wrote.
He also referenced Vijay’s popular political slogan and film theme, Oru Viral Puratchi — which translates to “one-finger revolution” — saying it is now “on the cusp of creating history”.
From Blockbuster Hero to Political Leader
Anwar noted that Vijay’s fans had long watched him portray a hero defeating corrupt politicians and villains on screen before entering politics in real life.
“For many years, his adoring fans watched him defeat corrupt politicians and assorted villains within three hours, usually after a short interval,” he wrote.
“The people of Tamil Nadu have now entrusted Vijay with a responsibility far greater than any role performed on screen.”
The phrase Oru Viral Puratchi became widely associated with Vijay after his 2018 political-themed blockbuster Sarkar, where he played a businessman who enters politics to challenge a corrupt government.
Vijay sworn in after Historic Election Victory
Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu state election after winning 108 seats in its first-ever electoral contest.
Although the party fell short of the 118 seats needed for a majority, it later secured enough backing from the Indian National Congress and several smaller left-wing parties to form the government.
The 51-year-old actor was sworn in as chief minister on May 10, becoming the first movie star to lead Tamil Nadu in a decade.
Anwar says Malaysia and Tamil Nadu Share Deep Ties
Anwar also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Malaysia and Tamil Nadu, pointing to the strong cultural and historical links shared between both communities across generations.
“Malaysia and Tamil Nadu share deep historical, cultural and people-to-people ties across generations,” he wrote.
“I look forward to working closely with Chief Minister Vijay in the years ahead.”
Read the post here.
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