Trisha attends Vijay's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu CM; film industry marks historic political moment

Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai has hosted countless film audio launches, celebrity events and fan gatherings over the years. On Sunday morning, it hosted something none of those occasions could match — the swearing-in of C Joseph Vijay as Tamil Nadu's ninth Chief Minister. For many who packed the venue, the same man they once cheered on screen was now taking an oath to govern a state of 80 million people. The weight of that shift was visible on faces across the stadium.

Trisha Arrives in Understated Elegance

Among the familiar faces in attendance was actor Trisha Krishnan, who arrived dressed in a blue silk saree paired with a beige embroidered blouse, her look completed with statement jewellery, minimal makeup, hair neatly pinned up and adorned with jasmine flowers. Before leaving her Chennai home for the venue, she paused briefly to speak to waiting mediapersons. Asked what the day meant for Tamil Nadu, she kept it simple: "Thank you, looking forward." The restraint said more than a speech might have. Actor Sangeetha and singer Krish were also spotted arriving at the stadium ahead of the ceremony.

It was actor Sanam Shetty who perhaps best captured the emotion running through the crowd outside. Speaking to media on Sunday morning, she said the past week of political uncertainty had kept supporters awake at night, and that Sunday finally brought the relief they had been waiting for. She framed the moment around Mother's Day, calling Vijay a true son of Tamil Nadu stepping into office on a day that felt fitting. "Today, we are going to sleep peacefully, dreaming of a better tomorrow," she said, her voice steady but her sentiment unmistakably personal.

Veteran actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan, who did not attend in person, posted a warm congratulatory message on X, referring to Vijay as his brother and expressing hope that Tamil Nadu would reach new heights under his leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his wishes, noting that the Central Government would continue working alongside the Tamil Nadu government for the welfare of the state's people — a signal of intent to maintain functional relations across party lines.

Old Friends, New Feelings

Lyricist Vivek, who attended the ceremony, posted that he had been inside the same stadium many times before for Vijay's film audio launches — but that Sunday felt entirely different. It was a sentiment echoed by actor Shanthnu Bhagyaraj, who co-starred with Vijay in the 2021 film Master and described the moment as deeply personal. RJ Balaji and actor Prakash Raj also took to social media to congratulate the new Chief Minister, with Balaji expressing confidence in what he called an inclusive and progressive government ahead.

Among the political dignitaries, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended the swearing-in ceremony in person — a visible symbol of the alliance support that helped Vijay cross the majority threshold and form the government after a week of tense negotiations.

The Screen Has Gone Dark; The Work Begins

For the industry that shaped him and the fans who followed him from theatres to polling booths, Sunday marked a closing of one chapter and the opening of another. The man who once drew crowds for blockbusters now carries the weight of a government. The stadium fell quiet when the oath was administered. Then it erupted. Outside, TVK cadres distributed sweets and burst firecrackers across the state — celebrating not just a political victory, but what many of them believe is the beginning of something genuinely new in Tamil Nadu.