Udhayanidhi Stalin Biography:
Udhayanidhi Stalin (born 27 November 1977) is an Indian politician, film producer, and former actor who currently serves as the 3rd Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a position he has held since September 2024 under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. Notably, Udhayanidhi is the youngest person in Tamil Nadu to ever hold this prestigious role. Since December 2022, he has also been the Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development in the Tamil Nadu government.
Born and raised in Madras (now Chennai), Udhayanidhi completed his education at Don Bosco School and earned a degree in commerce from Loyola College, Chennai. Before entering politics, he was involved in various social and community initiatives alongside his grandfather M. Karunanidhi and father M.K. Stalin, contributing to several welfare programs across Tamil Nadu.
Udhayanidhi officially began his political career in 2019 when he was appointed the Youth Wing Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party under the leadership of his father, M.K. Stalin. In 2021, he was elected as a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Following this, in 2022, he took on the role of Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development in Tamil Nadu and was also appointed as a Cabinet Minister in the state government.
In 2024, his political journey reached a new height when he was selected by his father to become the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, assuming office on 28th September 2024.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Early life:
Udhayanidhi Stalin was born on 27 November 1977, into a prominent political family as the son of M. K. Stalin, the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and the grandson of M. Karunanidhi, one of Tamil Nadu’s longest-serving Chief Ministers. He completed his schooling at Don Bosco School and went on to earn a degree in commerce from Loyola College in Chennai. Udhayanidhi hails from a family deeply rooted in both politics and Tamil cinema since the 1950s. His cousins, Arulnithi and Dayanidhi Azhagiri, are also well-known in the film industry, with Arulnithi being an actor and Dayanidhi a film producer.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Career:
Udhayanidhi Stalin began his journey as a film producer with Kuruvi (2008), starring Vijay, under his production house, Red Giant Movies. He went on to produce several successful films, including K. S. Ravikumar’s Aadhavan (2009) and Manmadan Ambu (2010). In 2011, Udhayanidhi produced A.R. Murugadoss’s science fiction film 7aum Arivu while also making a mark as a distributor with four notable releases in 2010: Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa by Gautham Vasudev Menon, Madrasapattinam by A. L. Vijay, Boss Engira Bhaskaran by M. Rajesh, and Mynaa by Prabhu Solomon.
In 2012, Udhayanidhi made his acting debut in the romantic comedy Oru Kal Oru Kannadi, directed by M. Rajesh, where he starred alongside Hansika Motwani and Santhanam. His performance as a carefree, unemployed youth received positive reviews. Behindwoods praised his “neat and enjoyable” portrayal, while Sify called his debut “promising.” Udhayanidhi won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance. Encouraged by the success of his debut, he continued acting in films like Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal (2014) and Nanbenda (2015), both of which paired him with Nayanthara.
He further expanded his acting repertoire with Gethu (2016), co-starring Amy Jackson, and the courtroom drama Manithan (2016) with Hansika Motwani, a remake of the Hindi film Jolly LLB. In 2017, Udhayanidhi appeared in the comedy Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen, directed by Ezhil, followed by Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam and the action thriller Ippadai Vellum, in which his performance was lauded for its subtlety.
In 2018, he worked on Nimir, a remake of the Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaaram, directed by Priyadarshan, followed by the romantic drama Kanne Kalaimaane. In 2020, Udhayanidhi took on a darker role in Mysskin’s Psycho, a psychological thriller exploring the mind of a serial killer. In 2022, he portrayed an IPS officer in Nenjuku Needhi, a Tamil remake of the Hindi film Article 15. Later that year, he starred in Magizh Thirumeni’s thriller Kalaga Thalaivan.
Udhayanidhi made his final appearance in films with Maamannan (2023), marking the end of his acting career as he fully transitioned into politics.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Political Career:
In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, Udhayanidhi Stalin’s dynamic campaign played a pivotal role in helping the DMK secure a decisive victory. His impactful “AIIMS Brick” remark became a turning point in the election narrative. Udhayanidhi contested from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly Constituency and emerged victorious.
On June 21, 2021, he introduced a robotic sewer cleaner in his constituency, making Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni the first in Tamil Nadu to adopt this technology. Later that year, on September 13, 2021, Udhayanidhi was nominated as a member of Anna University’s Syndicate for a three-year term, an announcement made by Speaker M. Appavu in the Assembly.
In December 2022, Udhayanidhi was appointed as the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development in his father’s cabinet, taking on the responsibility of shaping the youth and sports sectors in Tamil Nadu.
On September 28, 2024, Udhayanidhi Stalin achieved another significant milestone when he was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the youngest person ever to hold this position in the state’s history.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Controversy:
Comments on Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley
During an election rally in Dharapuram in 2021, Udhayanidhi Stalin made a controversial statement alleging that Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley died due to stress inflicted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This comment was a response to Modi’s earlier remarks, which suggested that Udhayanidhi had ascended to a prominent position in the party at the expense of other leaders.
The comments sparked backlash, with Bansuri Swaraj, Sushma Swaraj’s daughter, and Sonali Jaitley Bakshi, Arun Jaitley’s daughter, denouncing Udhayanidhi’s statements as false. Following the incident, the Election Commission of India issued a notice of election violation to Udhayanidhi, requesting an explanation for his remarks.
Remarks on Sanatana Dharma
On September 2, 2023, Udhayanidhi stirred controversy during a conference organized by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association by likening Sanatana Dharma to diseases such as malaria and dengue. He stated that Sanatana Dharma should not only be opposed but eradicated, arguing that it contradicts principles of social justice and equality. This assertion led to widespread outrage, with many interpreting it as a call for genocide.
Political leaders from the INDIA alliance, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, publicly distanced themselves from Udhayanidhi’s statements, condemning them. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Vineet Jindal reported the remarks to the Delhi Police, labeling them “provocative, inciting, and defamatory.” Another lawyer, Sudhir Kumar Ojha, filed a complaint with the Muzaffarpur Magistrate Court.
Despite the Madras High Court’s criticism of the police for not taking action, Udhayanidhi stood by his comments, asserting that he had not said anything wrong and was prepared to face legal repercussions. He stated that his ideology is aligned with that of B.R. Ambedkar, Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (Periyar), and Thirumavalavan.
In response to the growing outcry, a letter signed by 262 notable citizens was sent to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, urging the Supreme Court to take up the case. The Supreme Court later initiated an investigation into Udhayanidhi’s remarks. During a hearing on March 4, 2024, the Supreme Court reprimanded Udhayanidhi for his comments, questioning his decision to approach the court to consolidate the FIRs against him while allegedly misusing his right to freedom of speech. The court emphasized that, as a minister, Udhayanidhi should have exercised greater caution in his statements, considering the potential consequences.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Personal Life:
Udhayanidhi married Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi in 2002, and the couple has two children: a son named Inbanithi, born in 2004, and a daughter named Tanmaya, born in 2006. Kiruthiga currently leads the lifestyle magazine Inbox 1305 and has directed the films Vanakkam Chennai (2013) and Kaali (2018). Their son, Inbanithi, has signed with NEROCA FC, a club that competes in the I-League. Udhayanidhi identifies as an atheist.
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