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Actor Vijay to support ADMK, start party?

CHENNAI: Troubled by a flagging career, actor Vijay, who boasts of a considerable fan following among the youth, is likely to back the AIADMK in the coming assembly election. His father and well-known film director S A Chandrashekar is scheduled to meet party supremo J Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence in Chennai soon to discuss a "political arrangement" for the crucial state election and the possibility of Vijay launching a career from the party platform eventually. Faced with a series of flops and hurdles in the release of his latest film, Kavalan', apparently a fallout of a clash with Udayanidhi, film producer and the young grandson of chief minister M Karunanidhi, the actor is said to be seeking the support of Amma, the DMK's arch-rival, to bail him out. Reliable AIADMK sources confirmed that Chandrashekar had spoken to her and even sought a meeting with Jayalalithaa, who returned to Chennai on Sunday after a three-week sojourn at her Kodanadu retreat in the Nilgiris. The AIADMK leader, who triggered a minor political upheaval with her offer of support to the Congress last month, could well consider roping in the young actor in a bid to convert his large fan following into potential vote-bank. "It is true Chandrashekar has sought an appointment with Amma. But the date is yet to be confirmed," said an AIADMK senior. There have been rumblings of disagreement between Vijay and Udayanidhi, son of deputy chief minister MK Stalin, over the release of his latest flick Kavalan', pegged as a comeback film for the 36-year-old actor. Vijay supporters allege that Udayanidhi has been using his clout with film distributors to delay the release of the Vijay-Asin starrer to ensure that his own film, Manmathan Anbu' (starring Kamal Hassan, Madhavan and Trisha) produced under his Red Giant Movies banner, had a smooth release on December 17.

However, dismissing reports of strains between him and Vijay, Udayanidhi told news agencies that he was in touch with Vijay. "The audio release for Kavalan' is scheduled for December 6 and there is no way that the film can be released this month," said Udayanidhi, even claiming that he planned to produce his next film with Vijay as hero. But Vijay's industry well-wishers say otherwise. After a series of flops -- Sura', Vettakaran', Kuruvi' and Azhagiya Tamizhmagan' the actor was hoping Kavalan' would boost his sagging career. His next film Velayudham' is awaiting a January release. But in view of problems with film distributors, the releases are likely to be rescheduled. A meeting with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi in April last year had tongues wagging about the actor taking the political plunge. But shortly after that, Vijay told reporters that he was not in any position to take a decision regarding politics at that juncture. The actor, however, did not rule out "a decision in future" and had even hinted at turning his Vijay Makkal Iyakkam' (Vijay people's movement), launched last year in Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu, into a political force.