Thala-Thalapathy meeting in UK: All eyes on event where Vijay to flag off Ajith’s race
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s first overseas trip is officially centred on investments, business meetings and government agreements. But his appearance at Silverstone on Saturday is likely to become one of the most talked-about moments of the visit.
The Michelin Le Mans Cup has named Vijay its special guest for the Silverstone round. He is expected to support the Indian racers and perform the ceremonial start for a 44-car field. Among those competing is Ajith Kumar, the actor who has shared a fierce box-office rivalry with Vijay for decades.
For Tamil cinema fans, the symbolism is hard to miss. Ajith was once celebrated as “Thala”, while Vijay became “Thalapathy”. Their fan communities developed their own identities, with Ajith’s followers often called “Aamais” and Vijay’s supporters known as “Anils”.
At Silverstone, the contrast will take on an almost cinematic quality: Vijay will stand at the starting line while Ajith prepares to race. Yet their relationship with celebrity worship has followed very different paths.
Vijay’s fan network gradually transformed into an organised social-welfare movement, later becoming a political force and ultimately contributing to his electoral success.
Ajith, meanwhile, chose to distance himself from organised fan clubs. He dissolved his associations after concerns over factionalism, political involvement and people exploiting his name. In 2017, he said he had no officially recognised fan clubs and apologised for trouble caused by individuals claiming to represent him.
Two years later, Ajith again rejected suggestions that he was directing his fans towards politics. He said he had never asked admirers to join a political organisation or vote for a particular party. In his view, being a responsible fan meant concentrating on education, employment, family, law and respect for fellow citizens.
His approach became particularly visible during the devastating Chennai floods of 2015, when he reportedly opened his residence to people from nearby underprivileged neighbourhoods and provided shelter for several days.
Ajith had also publicly spoken against pressure being placed on film personalities to participate in political or social gatherings. During a felicitation event for former chief minister M Karunanidhi in 2010, he appealed for such pressure to stop, earning a standing ovation from Rajinikanth. Ajith subsequently clarified that his comments were not directed at Karunanidhi personally but at groups that he believed were creating such pressure within the film industry.
Following Vijay’s electoral victory, sources close to the actor-turned-politician said Ajith had called Vijay and congratulated him, reinforcing reports that the two maintain a cordial personal relationship despite their long-standing professional rivalry.
The chief minister’s broader UK visit is focused on attracting investment to Tamil Nadu, with discussions expected across sectors including advanced manufacturing, automobiles, electric vehicles, electronics and global capability centres. The government is also looking to use the India-UK trade agreement to encourage investment, exports and technology partnerships.