As DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin’s birthday approaches on 27 November, a video from Tamil Nadu showing women performing a scantily clad dance routine in front of DMK Minister KR Periyakaruppan and DMK cadre during celebrations for Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s birthday has triggered criticism across social media. The visuals, which showed scantily clad women coming close to the minister while performing dance steps, were widely circulated on social media platforms. The minister was seen watching the performance along with party workers as they danced right in front of him.
This is a minister in TN cabinet periyakaruppan getting girls to dance in this manner in front of him and all his party cadres to celebrate Udhayanidhi birthday. 👌 pic.twitter.com/aSODzpTrm3
— kishore k swamy 🇮🇳 (@sansbarrier) November 26, 2025
பெண்களை அருகில் ஆடச் சொல்லி ரசித்த அமைச்சர் பெரிய கருப்பன்..!
இந்த ஆளு இன்னும் திருந்தல 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/b7B4CLcpDL
— Phoenix Vignesh (@PhoenixAdmk) November 26, 2025
This incident is not an isolated one but appears to be part of a recurring pattern within the DMK’s event management, drawing criticism for its use of what is locally known as “record dance” to attract crowds.
A History of Controversial Performances
The DMK’s reliance on such vulgar dance performances has been a repeated point of contention:
January 2024: The DMK Youth Wing Conference in Salem was criticized for its “time-tested formula” of featuring skimpily clad women dancing vulgarly to songs with explicit lyrics, all in an effort to “attract” and keep the audience hooked.
January 2021: Party cadre waiting for leader M.K. Stalin in Tiruchy were treated to four hours of professional dancers “gyrating to film item songs” on a roadside stage. The performance, which saw functionaries donating money for encores, embarrassed women in the crowd who had brought young girls. At the time, senior leader K.N. Nehru claimed the event was arranged by local functionaries without his knowledge.
Public Backlash
The consistent use of these performances has led to accusations of hypocrisy, with critics pointing out that the same party figures who indulge in or condone these “vulgar shows” also present themselves as intellectuals who conduct “knowledge festivals.”
The latest birthday celebration for Udhayanidhi Stalin has reignited this criticism, with many questioning why a semi-nude dance performance is considered an appropriate form of celebration for the DMK scion’s birthday and what it signifies about the party’s culture and its respect for women.
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