R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI/MADURAI, FEB 16
A major political controversy with strong cinematic reverberations erupted in Tamil Nadu on Monday after State BJP president Nainar Nagendran criticised actor-politician Vijay and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), while actor Trisha Krishnan issued a sharp legal response condemning controversial remarks linking her name to Vijay.
Disrespect should and always will be called out. pic.twitter.com/FmXdIBvAJ6
— Trish (@trishtrashers) February 16, 2026
- BJP chief dares Vijay to declare TVK policies, insists NDA will capture power under EPS leadership
- Trisha hits back with legal communiqué, calls remarks “distasteful and inappropriate,” asserts political neutrality
- Annamalai, Khushbu Sundar urge dignity, restraint; Kanimozhi and rivals escalate political war of words
- Cine veterans rally behind Trisha, warn against politicising film personalities and personal lives
- ‘Disrespect should always be called out’: Row exposes volatile intersection of Tamil cinema, power and electoral politics
The row triggered widespread political and cine-industry reactions, with BJP leaders, opposition figures and film veterans calling for restraint and dignity in public discourse.
Nainar Challenges Vijay’s Political Vision, NDA Stakes Claim to Power
Taking direct aim at Vijay’s political credibility, Nagenthran questioned the ideological clarity of TVK and dared the actor to clearly define his political roadmap.
“Does he have any policy? He has written the word ‘policy’ only on paper. Let him explain his party’s policies clearly,” he told reporters.
Inspecting arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s March 1 rally, Nagenthran said Vijay should first explain his party’s policies and principles before targeting political opponents.
Expressing confidence in the BJP-led alliance, he declared: “It is the DMK alliance that is yet to take shape. The NDA is a strong force. The 2026 election will see Palaniswami becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”
He reiterated BJP’s backing for AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami as NDA’s chief ministerial face.
Nagenthran also clarified amid the controversy: He never meant to hurt anyone.
Trisha Hits Back With Legal Notice, Asserts Neutrality and Dignity
Reacting strongly, Trisha issued a legal communiqué through her counsel, expressing disappointment over remarks made by a “person holding a high stature in Tamil Nadu’s political space.”
Her legal statement said she: “Never expected such remarks from a person holding a high stature in the state’s political space.”
It emphasised that she maintains a strictly neutral stance: She maintains a strictly neutral political stance and is not affiliated with any political party.
The communiqué stressed that Trisha: “Wishes to be defined solely by her professional work in cinema rather than any alleged political alignment.”
Sharing the legal statement publicly, she declared: “Disrespect should and always will be called out.”
Annamalai, Khushbu Sundar Call for Respectful Political Discourse
When a woman endures the devastating pain of sexual assault, it leaves indelible scars on her soul. Every step forward is a testament to her courage, yet the echoes of her trauma linger. She is not a mere pawn in political discourse, nor a statistic; she is a beacon of strength…
— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) May 29, 2025
Senior BJP leader and former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, reacting to the controversy, emphasised that political debates must focus on ideology and governance rather than personal matters.
He underscored that political differences should remain issue-based and said leaders must exercise responsibility while speaking about individuals from the film fraternity.
Actor-politician and BJP national executive member Khushbu Sundar also stressed the importance of dignity and respect, particularly when public personalities are involved.
Khushbu, herself a veteran actor and political leader, is learnt to have emphasised that cinema personalities deserve respect and that public discourse must remain civil and responsible.
Political observers noted that both leaders’ responses reflected the BJP’s effort to contain the controversy and maintain focus on policy-driven political engagement.
Kanimozhi, AIADMK Leaders Escalate Political Counterattack
ஒரு ஆணை விமர்சிப்பதற்கு கூட, ஒரு பெண்ணை இழிவுபடுத்தி அநாகரிகமாக பேசுவதே ஆர்.எஸ்.எஸ் – பா.ஜ.கவின் அருவருக்கத்தக்க அரசியல். தமிழ்நாடு பாஜக தலைவரின் கருத்து வன்மையாகக் கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது.
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) February 14, 2026
DMK deputy general secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi criticised the remarks and called for maintaining dignity in political life.
Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leader Dindigul C Srinivasan challenged Vijay to rely on his own identity.
“If he is dependent on his own strength and identity, then he should stop invoking the legacy of our leaders and refrain from displaying their photos, and then face the election,” Srinivasan said.
Film Industry Voices Rally Behind Trisha Amid Growing Cinema–Politics Clash
Veteran film personalities and industry insiders expressed solidarity with Trisha, stressing that actors must not be drawn into political controversies unnecessarily.
Senior cine veterans noted that Trisha has maintained professionalism and political neutrality throughout her career and warned against targeting film personalities for political gains.
Observers said the controversy reflects the growing convergence of cinema and politics, especially following Vijay’s entry into active political life.
The actor-politician’s rising influence and TVK’s emergence as a political force have begun reshaping Tamil Nadu’s electoral dynamics ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
With political rhetoric intensifying and cinema icons increasingly at the centre of public debate, the Trisha controversy has emerged as a flashpoint—highlighting the delicate balance between political competition, personal dignity and Tamil Nadu’s powerful cinema culture.
