It
is partying time in Tamil Nadu – on the political front, with Superstar
Rajinikanth and Kamalahasan taking the plunge into politics. While the former
took the lead in announcement, the latter overtook him by launching his party “ Makkal Needhi Maiyam “at Madurai. The
reason stated by them for their political foray is similar, time tested and
heard over and over again from their predecessors – “ We would like to serve
the people of Tamil Nadu, do them good as we owe a responsibility and duty to
the Tamil society which has given us everything in life and it is payback time
in gratitude “. I wish the new entrants all the very best, and hope that they
would do ample justice to the role donned.
Tamil
Nadu has been ruled by people with filmy background, lineage for a long time, as
Tamils have always held, (still hold) tinsel
town stars with awe and admiration. History is replete with examples, starting
from the iconic MGR, Sri.Karunanidhi, Madam Jayalalitha, who proved to be the
successful trio. Lady luck did not favour Messrs.
Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayakanth, T.Rajendar, K.Bhagyaraj, Sarathkumar and other
minor players who could not sustain in politics, survive its intricacies and
emerge victorious.
Another
state which eulogizes film personalities is Andhra Pradesh, where Sri.N.T.Rama
Rao wrote history by floating the Telugu Desam Party and rode to power by
decimating the Congress in the 1980s, within a short span of time, spread over
few months. This astounding victory caused
ripples in the political sphere of the country. Unfortunately other Tollywood stars like Messrs. Chiranjeevi, Vijayashanthi,
Balakrishna could not replicate the success story.
The
story is different in Kerala, the most literate state in India, where the
populace is more politically informed and matured. They cannot be swayed by
film personalities, as they are seen, respected and given their due as reel
life heroes alone, and are looked as
ordinary citizens in real life. Keralites
have not recognized a film actor as their political leader, and none has occupied
the Chief Minister’s gaadi till date. Not possible in future too.
Now
that Sri.Rajinikanth and Sri.Kamalahasan are declared political players, what impact
will it have / make on the other parties in the state?. Too premature to say anything concrete. On a surer note,
their entry has created minor aftershocks in other camps. Fleeting time would unfold many interesting
scenes and entertaining stories before the people, who are all eyes and ears for
it.
May
the show begin in earnest
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