Karur tragedy: What we know so far about Thalapathy Vijay's rally and the deadly stampede
The Tamil Nadu government announced compensation of Rs10 lakh per affected family.
At least 39 people were killed and 95 others injured yesterday (27 September) in a stampede at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, organised by actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay and his 'Tamilaga Vettri Kalagam (TVK)' party, according to Hindustan Times.
Thousands had gathered to see the film star, raising serious questions about crowd safety and putting Vijay's political debut under scrutiny.
What was the rally about?
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The Karur rally was part of TVK's "Velicham Veliyeru" (Let There Be Light) campaign, aimed at building support and strengthening grassroots networks ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu state elections.
The party is trying to challenge both DMK and BJP. Thousands attended to see Vijay, but the massive crowd overwhelmed the venue.
As people surged towards the stage, a stampede broke out, leaving many trampled before authorities could intervene.
Will these deaths prove costly for Vijay?
Vijay expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and pledged support for the victims' families.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each to the families of the victims, an aid of ₹1 lakh each to those undergoing medical treatment, and set up a judicial commission to investigate the incident.
The disaster raises questions about crowd management and whether it could affect Vijay's political image ahead of the elections.
Tamil Nadu police have filed a criminal case against senior TVK leaders Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar, and VP Mathiyalagan following the stampede. The case marks the first step toward potential charges, with investigations currently underway. Authorities noted that the party had sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd exceeded that number, contributing to the chaos.
From films to politics
Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Thalapathy Vijay, is one of South India's biggest film stars. Born on 22 June 1974 in Chennai, he is the son of film director SA Chandrasekhar and playback singer Shoba Chandrasekhar.
He began acting as a child artist at age 10 in the 1984 Tamil film Vetri and later appeared in Nan Sigappu Manithan alongside superstar Rajinikanth.
Vijay made his debut as a lead actor at 18 with Naalaiya Theerpu (1992) and went on to star in hits like Senthurapandi, Rasigan, Deva and Coimbatore Mappillai.
Over three decades, he acted in 68 films, often portraying characters who stood for social justice and courage. He became the first Indian actor to charge Rs200 crore for a single film.
In February 2024, Vijay retired from acting to focus on politics, founding the TVK party. He described politics as a deep aspiration and said he wanted to fully dedicate himself to serving the people of Tamil Nadu.
