Chennai: When C Joseph Vijay walked into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday morning to take oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, it was not just the historic political transition that drew attention.
It was also what he wore.
Dressed in a black shirt paired with a white veshti, Vijay's attire immediately sparked conversations across Tamil Nadu's political and social circles. In a state where political symbolism is deeply embedded in public life, the choice of clothing was widely seen as more than a fashion statement; it was interpreted as a carefully calibrated political message.
For decades, the black shirt has remained one of the most recognisable symbols of the Dravidian movement, representing protest, rationalism, social justice and resistance to caste hierarchy. The imagery traces its roots to social reformer E V Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, who founded the Dravidar Kazhagam.
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In 1945, Periyar urged his followers to wear black shirts as a mark of protest against caste oppression, superstition and social discrimination. The colour later evolved into a powerful political identity embraced by Dravidian parties, particularly the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), during agitations against Hindi imposition, caste inequality and central policies perceived as threats to Tamil identity.
Against that backdrop, Vijay's decision to appear in the iconic black-and-white combination at his swearing-in ceremony has triggered intense political readings.
Political observers believe the attire was meant to visually position Vijay within the larger Dravidian ideological tradition while simultaneously presenting himself as a new-generation alternative to both the DMK and the AIADMK.
The symbolism becomes more significant because Vijay is the first leader outside the DMK-AIADMK political axis to head the Tamil Nadu government since 1967. Many see the outfit as a signal that while his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) seeks to establish a fresh political identity, it does not intend to distance itself from core Dravidian principles such as social justice and rationalism.
The black shirt also aligns with the political messaging Vijay has cultivated since entering active politics. His speeches and films have frequently touched on corruption, governance failures, social inequality and youth empowerment - themes long associated with Dravidian political discourse.
Adding to the symbolism was the emotional atmosphere surrounding the ceremony. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended the event, while actor Trisha Krishnan described it as a "big day for Tamil Nadu".
"We are going to attend the function. I am going to enjoy that my son is going to take the oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," Vijay's father and filmmaker S A Chandrasekhar told ANI ahead of the event.
Vijay's mother Sobha Chandrasekhar also expressed joy over the occasion, saying, "I am so happy. It is Mother's Day today, I am very happy."