Karunanidhi-young Vijay photo goes viral; RGV says ‘Kalaingar wouldn’t have dreamed that the kid behind him would one day destroy his party’

A simple throwback photo shared by filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has suddenly become a hot topic on social media, linking cinema, politics, and history in an unexpected way. The image, which shows late DMK leader M Karunanidhi with a young Vijay standing just behind him, has resurfaced at a time when Tamil Nadu politics has seen a major shift after the latest assembly elections.

Also Read: Is this the end of the Dravidian duopoly? Vijay redraws Tamil Nadu’s political map

Old photograph from a public event comes back into focus

The photograph appears to be taken during a public ribbon-cutting ceremony where M Karunanidhi, also known as Kalaignar, is seen at the centre surrounded by several people.

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Behind him stands a young boy, later identified by social media users as actor Vijay. Also visible in the frame are Vijay’s parents, SA Chandrasekhar and Shoba, who were accompanying Karunanidhi at the event.

Karunanidhi, one of Tamil Nadu’s most influential political figures, led the DMK party for decades, from 1969 until his death in August 2018. His long political journey shaped the Dravidian movement in the state and left a strong legacy that continues even today.

Ram Gopal Varma’s comment triggers strong reactions online

Kalaingar wouldn’t have dreamed that the kid behind him would one day destroy his party 🙏👍🔥 pic.twitter.com/7NNp6Ge73S

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 5, 2026

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma shared the old photograph on X (formerly Twitter) and added a sharp comment that quickly went viral. He wrote, “Kalaignar wouldn’t have dreamed that the kid behind him would one day destroy his party.”

His remark referred to Vijay’s recent political success and its impact on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), currently led by Chief Minister MK Stalin.

The timing of the post added to the discussion, as Vijay’s political journey has been closely watched since he officially entered politics in 2024. He formed his own party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and positioned it as an alternative to the long-standing Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu politics.

Vijay’s TVK emerges as strong force but falls short of majority

In the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Vijay’s party TVK made a powerful debut. The party won 108 seats, making it the single largest party in the state. However, it still fell short of the required majority mark of 118 seats needed to form the government independently.

Despite not reaching the majority, the result marked a significant political breakthrough for a party contesting its first election. The DMK, led by MK Stalin, faced a major setback, losing by a large margin in several constituencies.

Following the results, discussions have already begun between TVK and other parties that won seats in the election. There is a strong possibility that smaller parties may join hands with Vijay’s outfit to help form the next government in Tamil Nadu.