RihView: MJ & Vijay

Someone had to say it

This week felt like a reminder that influence doesn’t always follow logic. Some things hold their place long after their time has passed. Others move forward despite everything that should have slowed them down. And we’re left trying to make sense of both.
Let’s get into it.

Michael: Before Our Time. Still Filling The Room.

The Michael biopic has crossed $400 million worldwide and, in under ten days, has already pushed past Elvis to become the second highest-grossing music biopic of all time. It’s now on track to take the top spot. Which, honestly, doesn’t feel surprising. Just impressive.

A lot of this happened before many of us were even born. There was no social media, no constant visibility. And yet, the pull is still there. Strong enough to fill theatres and strong enough to turn a decades-old legacy into a current box office moment. I watched it this week, and I get it.

Not just the music, but the scale of it. The kind of stardom that doesn’t rely on trends or timing. The kind that just… carries.

And one small moment said a lot. There were people in their 50s and 60s in the theatre, filming entire songs like it was a live concert. Phones up. Singing along. Completely in their element. And it wasn’t even annoying. It was kind of adorable. This didn’t feel like a comeback. It felt like something that never really left.

Last Word: Some stars peak. Others don’t seem to have an expiry date.

Controversy Who? Vija's TVK Surges

Early election trends in Tamil Nadu are pointing to a strong lead for Vijay’s new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with the actor-turned-politician already ahead in a significant number of seats.
Which is interesting for a few reasons.

One, he’s new to politics. Not “years in the system, slowly building influence” new. Properly new. And yet, he’s already competing with parties that have been around for decades.

Two, this comes right after what many assumed would be reputation-denting moments. A very public divorce. Followed almost immediately by a wedding appearance with the same woman he was rumoured to be involved with. The timeline alone had people convinced this would cost him.

Apparently not. Plus, there were Income Tax raids tied to his film earnings, and a tragic stampede at a TVK rally in 2025 that led to dozens of deaths and raised serious questions.  If early trends are anything to go by, the impact is… limited at best.

Which says something about how star power operates, especially in this part of the world. It doesn’t just attract attention. It holds it. It absorbs controversy, reshapes it, and, in some cases, moves right past it. 

And maybe that’s the more uncomfortable takeaway. That for a certain kind of public figure, perception isn’t fragile. It’s flexible. What might derail someone else becomes background noise.
So while the numbers are still early, one thing already feels clear. This wasn’t just a political debut. It was a reminder.

Last Word: In some cases, the bigger the star, the harder it is for anything else to take centre stage.

Until next week, keep your playlists nostalgic, your expectations flexible, and maybe don’t assume you know how a story is going to play out.

- Rihaab