Actor Vijay Sethupathi’s remarks under successive Tamil Nadu governments reveal a strikingly different tone: he spoke of “looting” when the AIADMK was in power, praised the DMK government when it took office, and has now triggered a political row with his comments on leadership under the TVK government.
During the AIADMK regime, Sethupathi was asked in a programme to choose the better Chief Minister after being shown pictures of then AIADMK leaders Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam.
Instead of choosing between the two, Sethupathi spoke about an issue he said had affected him emotionally while travelling to the programme.
“Since you are showing these to me, let me ask something. On the way, I saw they were digging several big hills, my heart ached, I want to place this as a request whether it is OPS or EPS. They were digging a very big hill (mountain) I felt bad and wanted to cry. Please let us reduce digging of hills and looting. I request them.”
His remarks amounted to a direct appeal to the then AIADMK leadership to stop what he described as the digging of hills and “looting”.
However, Sethupathi’s tone was markedly different when he spoke about the DMK government.
During a programme held under the DMK regime, he praised the government for its role in education and said that education was helping families move forward.
“This government has been working for a very long time towards educating us all. Because of education, the family is moving to the next level, and this government is playing an important role again and again. Thank you very much for that.”
The contrast between the two remarks has now gained renewed attention following a controversy over Sethupathi’s comments on leadership after the TVK government came to power.
Vijay Sethupathi returned as the host of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 10, which premiered on September 6. During a recent episode, he was discussing contestant Shadhika’s approach to leadership when he spoke about the responsibilities of a leader.
“A person who does not know what leadership means, does not understand the responsibility that comes with being a leader, makes several promises and, when problems arise, blames the opposing team and runs away — that is not leadership. It is cheating,” Sethupathi said.
He also spoke about the power associated with occupying a chair, saying that a chair was present in every household but acquiring one brought power that could become intoxicating.
The remarks quickly triggered debate on social media. Some viewers interpreted the comments as a reference to political leadership, particularly amid the ongoing political controversy surrounding Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s remarks and actions in the Assembly concerning former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the MISA issue.
However, Sethupathi did not explicitly name any political leader in the remarks.
Amid the controversy, Vijay TV issued a clarification, stressing that Bigg Boss Tamil is an entertainment programme and that its rules, format and themes are built around the game.
“The incidents that take place in the programme, the contestants’ conversations and opinions, and the issues that arise between them should all be viewed as part of the competition,” the channel said.
The channel further said that comments made or incidents shown on the programme should not be interpreted as referring to individuals or organisations outside the show.
“Everything that happens in the programme should be understood solely from the perspective of entertainment,” Vijay TV said.
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The latest controversy has nevertheless brought Sethupathi’s earlier political remarks back into focus. His comments during the AIADMK regime were openly critical, with his appeal centred on stopping the “digging of hills and looting”. Under the DMK government, his public remarks were instead appreciative, with him thanking the government for its contribution to education.
Now, after a change in government and amid a politically charged atmosphere, his comments on leadership have again triggered political speculation — even as the television channel has sought to distance the programme from any political interpretation.
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