When a Delhi airport security official asked Sridhar Vembu: 'Sir, Vijay Thalapathy win?' Zoho founder praises actor-leader's 'remarkable political rise in short span of time'

A chance airport conversation often says more about public mood than long political speeches or curated surveys. Sometimes it appears in a question from a stranger, sometimes in a passing observation from everyday life. A recent post by Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu captured exactly that kind of moment, where casual interactions, village conversations, and political analysis all converged around one name, reflecting how rapidly perceptions can shift in Tamil Nadu’s evolving political landscape.

Sridhar Vembu shared that during a visit to Delhi airport, a security official, likely from Odisha based on his name, noticed his attire and assumed he was from Tamil Nadu. The officer then asked him with clear excitement whether Vijay Thalapathy would win, referring to actor-turned-politician Vijay.

He added that this was not an isolated moment. Just a couple of days earlier, he had a conversation in his village with a politically aware farmer who is not particularly inclined toward cinema. According to Vembu, the farmer felt that Thalapathy Vijay could potentially create a surprise in their local booth. Interestingly, the same individual had earlier volunteered for Annamalai, indicating shifting political preferences at the grassroots level.


Vembu also referenced commentary from Thuglak, which suggested that the emerging Vijay phenomenon in Tamil Nadu should not be reduced to film popularity or glamour appeal alone. Instead, it pointed to a broader sentiment where people from different walks of life appear to be placing hopes for change on a new political entrant.


He further noted that exit polls in a three-party contest may not fully capture ground realities, especially when a new political force draws support from multiple directions. In such scenarios, voter movement becomes harder to predict with conventional models.


At the same time, Vembu expressed a balanced view, stating that established parties like DMK or AIADMK still hold strong organisational depth and financial strength at the grassroots level, which continues to give them an advantage in elections. Yet, he acknowledged that Vijay’s political rise has been striking, given the relatively short time frame, marking him as a notable new factor in Tamil Nadu’s political conversation.

Tamil Nadu Elections

In Tamil Nadu, many exit polls have indicated that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could perform strongly in recent elections. The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Axis My India exit poll projected that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) would get 98-120 seats in its debut election, DMK-led alliance 92-100 seats and the five-party alliance led by BJP getting 22-32 seats. Several exit polls have predicted that the alliance led by the ruling DMK will return to power in the state.