Veteran actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan met the newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, on May 16, 2026. After the meeting, Haasan congratulated his industry colleague on social media and said he was proud to see Vijay move into state leadership. Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took office on May 10 following the party’s assembly election win.
A cordial first meeting
Haasan, a Rajya Sabha MP, spoke warmly about the new Chief Minister, saying Vijay shared a number of welfare ideas for Tamil Nadu during their conversation. He also referenced the administration’s early moves, including the closure of hundreds of retail liquor outlets.
Six demands for the film industry
The main purpose of the meeting, though, was the industry. Haasan submitted a list of six demands to the Chief Minister, arguing that government backing is important for the survival of Tamil cinema. He pointed to the financial pressures the sector faces — production delays, rising energy costs and the cost of maintaining theatres — and urged the administration to provide relief while protecting the wages and welfare of daily-wage cinema workers.
With Vijay’s own background in films, industry figures are hopeful the meeting will lead to supportive policies, including for upcoming projects.
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