A man from Chennai has captured public attention after donating 22,674 rupees (RM933.03) to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund after being inspired by a scene from the 2002 film Thamizhan starring Vijay.
Arun Loganathan, who hails from Chennai, said the contribution was made as a symbolic gesture of “individual responsibility towards state debt” following Vijay’s rise as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
In the film, Vijay’s character Surya sends a cheque worth 4,000 rupees (RM164.60) to the Indian Prime Minister as a contribution to help reduce the country’s debt burden.
Nearly 25 years later, Arun decided to recreate that gesture by donating money to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
“It may be a small amount, but I believe change must begin with ourselves,” he said.
Arun, who works as a mentalist performer, said the public should play a more active role in governance and social awareness.
The 43-year-old also recorded the entire process of making the payment at the Villivakkam post office before uploading the video to social media.
He explained that the amount 22,674 was chosen because it reflects Vijay’s birth date — June 22, 1974 — which holds symbolic value among the actor’s fans.
Arun said the estimated share of Tamil Nadu’s state debt per individual exceeds 100,000 rupees (RM4,114.50), based on the state budget announced in February 2026, but he could only afford to contribute a small portion for now.
He also sent a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay titled “Fulfilling My Individual Debt Responsibility”.
In the letter, Arun, who contracted polio as a child, urged the state government to improve disability-friendly facilities and create more inclusive access for people with disabilities.
“I understand the money may not directly be used to reduce the state debt and could instead go towards public welfare efforts. But if it can help improve accessibility for disabled individuals, that alone would be meaningful,” he said.
Arun is now known as a mentalist, hypnotist and mind reader who frequently appears on television programmes and corporate events.
However, in the early 2000s, he was actually a law student at Dr Ambedkar Law College — just like Surya’s character in Thamizhan.
According to Arun, the film left a strong impact on him because of its message surrounding social justice and public legal awareness.
Besides highlighting issues involving citizens’ rights, the film also featured scenes criticising negligence among public servants and unfair treatment towards the underprivileged.
