"...When we make wrong decisions, we have to face disappointments," legendary Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan is reported to have stated after his party, Tamizhaga Munnetra Munnani, failed to make a mark in electoral politics in Tamil Nadu, where film stars have often succeeded in politics.
Sivaji Ganesan, born Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy, started his political career as an activist of the Dravidar Kazhagam before joining the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam when it was launched by CN Annadurai. But he quit the DMK in 1956 after coming under fire for visiting the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, as the party at the time strongly advocated atheism.
Later, he became a Congress supporter under the leadership of K Kamaraj. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi nominated him to the Rajya Sabha, where he served from 1982 to 1988.
After the death of MG Ramachandran, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) split into factions led by VN Janaki Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. Sivaji reportedly had a difference of opinion with the Congress over which faction of the AIADMK to support in the 1989 state elections. He then launched his own party, Tamizhaga Munnetra Munnani. The party backed Janaki Ramachandran's faction but lost all 49 seats it contested. Sivaji himself was defeated by DMK candidate Durai Chandrasekaran in the Tiruvaiyaru constituency by a margin of 10,643 votes.
Ganesan eventually regretted his decision to float his own party and merged it with the Janata Dal in December 1989. He was state President of the Janata Dal before he said quits to his political career.
His party existed only briefly, from 10 February 1988 to December 1989.
Later in life, Sivaji Ganesan regretted having ever floated his own party and reportedly said:
"Many of the people with me were professional politicians. They had to remain in politics to make a living. I was compelled to start a party for their sake, although I did not need to."
He also reportedly said, "When we make wrong decisions, we have to face disappointments."
An article in The News Minute dated October 1, 2015, reported, quoting senior leader S Thirunavukkarasar, that the Congress office building in Salem was built by Sivaji with the proceeds from his drama shows—perhaps an attempt to portray him as a Congress loyalist, despite the fact that he had broken ranks with the party earlier.
In a recent interview with The New Indian Express, Vignesh Rajamani, researcher in South and South East Asian politics compared actor-turned-politician and leader of Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay, to 'Nadigar Thilagam' Sivaji Ganesan. The comparison was not about Sivaji Ganesan’s unparalleled acting versatility but rather about his political naivety.
However, political scientist Ramu Manivannan disagreed. "There is no comparison between the legend that Sivaji Ganesan is and Vijay," he said. "Sivaji Ganesan is a cultural icon, which Vijay is not."
He, however, added that Sivaji was a misfit in politics.
"Sivaji was not a political organiser, mobiliser, or fundraiser. He didn't fit into that system. MG Ramachandran, however, was charismatic and had all the qualities of a good organiser, mobiliser, and fundraiser," said Ramu Manivannan.