Dhanush sparks political buzz with new welfare body

Now moving on, another Tamil cinema actor is on his way to join politics. The speculation over Kollywood star Dhanush making his foray into active politics has gained fresh attention after he rebranded his fan club into the Dhanush Narpani Ayakkam which translates to Dhanush Welfare Movement. The fact that he is signalling a venture into grassroots social welfare has caught the eye of the state's political establishment. Most notably, former actor and now Chief Minister Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, TVK has welcomed the prospect. As of now, Dhanush has maintained absolute silence over his entry into politics. The guesswork started after an expensive meeting of state-level office bearers in Coimbatore. Nearly 3,000 administrators had wanted to formally inaugurate the Dhanush Narpani Ayakkam. Dhanush did not attend the gathering in person, but directives were issued to step up social service initiatives that included free ambulance networks, auto-rickshaw welfare drives and aid distribution at the assembly constituency level across Tamil Nadu. To seasoned observers of Tamil Nadu-centred politics, this systematic structuring of a fan club into a welfare wing mirrors the playbook previously deployed by cinema legends turned political icons. Chief Minister Vijay's party was quick to acknowledge the development. Political observers and commentators have also noted that in Anand L. Rai's 2013 political romantic drama, Ranjana Dhanush played Kundan Shankar, a Banarasi-based boy who gets inspired to join student activism. Experts are of the opinion that the film, which was slightly politically charged, may have left an imprint on the actor. But when it comes to politics, for Dhanush, a doubtful history hangs over him. His former father-in-law, superstar Rajinikanth, spent decades navigating intense political speculation. He had famously set up the Rajini Makkal Mandram and announced his intentions to contest elections. In 2021, Rajinikanth formally dissolved his political party and opted out ahead of the state elections, citing health concerns. He had never contested a single ballot after that. Dhanush is not one of those actors who has witnessed his stardom fade away. A quick look at his career in the show business and you can tell that Dhanush is still witnessing his best of days. He has won multiple national film awards across several categories. In 2022, he featured alongside Hollywood stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in The Gray Man. The film was directed by the Russo brothers who have delivered well-known blockbusters such as Captain America, Avengers, Infinity War, Endgame, and Extraction, to name a famous few. Prior to that, in 2018, Dhanush had made his global screen debut with The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir. The movie was helmed by filmmaker Ken Scott. It was made in English, French and Tamil. With a jam-packed film slate that includes Om Chapter 1, several directorials and Pan India Project, Dhanush has not declared any immediate jump. Yet, in a state where social welfare movements have long served As the launchpads for possible political aspirations, the formation of the Dhanush Narpani Yakkam ensures that political circles will be watching his next move.