Ver Pattru: Caught between one’s roots and student politics

In Tamil Nadu, cinema continues to exert a powerful influence on public life, with many actors pursuing a second act in politics. This phenomenon dates back to the time of M.G. Ramachandran, who remained electorally unseated for 13 years until his death. Actors like Vijay have revived debates about the absence of political activity in educational institutions, which have largely shut their doors to politics.