Renowned Tamil writer Perumal Murugan has provided a detailed, on-the-ground account of actor Vijay’s rally in Namakkal on September 27, 2025. His blog post captures the frenzy, organizational lapses, and the human chaos that foreshadowed the fatal stampede hours later in Karur.
A Town Under Siege
Murugan describes Namakkal as a town reshaped by the rally. Early arrivals at dawn, narrow roads lined with shops, and massive banners created a challenging environment. Despite police warnings, TVK functionaries ignored restrictions, placing banners that blocked a quarter of the road.
Murugan notes that the rally site was ill-suited for such a large gathering. Plans to have Vijay speak briefly were overshadowed by a crowd that had no provision for food or water, highlighting a lack of preparedness that would prove dangerous.
Organizational Gaps
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) deployed a retired deputy superintendent to advise on safety measures such as fencing transformers, removing banners, arranging water stations, and checking flagpoles. However, many instructions were ignored, creating a half-hearted and unsafe setup.
‘Bussy’ Anand, TVK’s general secretary, inspected some arrangements but was distracted by functionaries seeking personal attention. Local politics and caste dynamics also influenced priorities, diverting focus from crowd safety.
Crowd Chaos and Safety Concerns
Vijay’s roadshow entered Namakkal at 2:30 PM, with his speech starting by 2:45 PM. Murugan notes that the crowd had been waiting since early morning, with little food or water. People began fainting by 10 AM, and medical staff had to work tirelessly to revive them. Fifty individuals were sent to hospitals, some to Coimbatore, though fortunately there were no deaths in Namakkal.
The police were instructed not to interfere, leaving crowd control entirely to volunteers, many of whom were more focused on gaining visibility than ensuring safety. Murugan observes a “town under siege” as leaders remained absent and fans scrambled without proper provisions.
Prelude to Tragedy
Murugan’s essay is notable for its calm, unsentimental prose. He captures the inevitability of disaster without sensationalism, emphasizing how inadequate planning and mismanagement at Namakkal mirrored the tragic events that occurred later in Karur.
“The piece reads like a mirror — of fans who arrive at dawn without water, of leaders who seek only to be seen, and of a state learning what it means when cinema becomes politics.”
Conclusion
Perumal Murugan’s account provides a critical, eye-witness perspective on the interplay of celebrity, politics, and public safety. It underscores the responsibility of organizers in managing large crowds and highlights the vulnerabilities of towns overwhelmed by spectacle. The Namakkal rally serves as a reminder of how mismanagement and human ambition can foreshadow tragedy.
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