In Tamil Nadu, watch how ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth reels in the crowd: Shhhh…

Vijayakanth was late by least two hours, but the villagers had waited patiently to get a glimpse of their favourite actor-turned-politician. As a party worker took the mike to welcome Vijayakanth, referring him as the “leader of the poor”, an aide reminded him to add — “Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”

It was then that Vijayakanth, one among the four CM candidates in this election, stepped up. In a speech that lasted barely 30 minutes, he took a dig at Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, went on to resolve a clash between an agitated supporter and mediapersons, criticised DMK chief M Karunanidhi, and ridiculed various claims of the AIADMK government. Often, his impulsive statements made people laugh, and it was obvious that the huge gathering was more keen to soak in his larger-than-life image than hear his political statements.

“Anbukonda pothumakkale (my dear citizens),” he began. And then, as the applause rose, he paused to take a step backward to stretch his hands on the dais, and looked at the crowd with a crooked smile, like he does in his movies.

Vijayakanth may be a Telugu Naidu by origin but after C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran (MGR) and Karunanidhi, he is probably the only leader whose vote base cuts across OBCs, Dalits and Muslims. He launched the DMDK in 2005, and faces this election with 18 MLAs — this time, his wife Premalatha is charting the campaign.

Vijayakanth’s fans say they have noticed a complete makeover in his appearance after the campaigns started last month. They say his new, coiffured hair style reminded them of his leading role in the 1991 superhit Chinna Gounder (a 1991 super hit movie) image. But at Ottapidaram, he appeared in his usual red-tinged, wind-swept hair.

But the style was still the same. Whenever people shouted “Captain” and clapped noisily at his dialogues, he would put up a finger on his lips to say: “Shhhh.”

“I have a job to do,” he said, reading out the names of his party’s candidates. And then, looking pointedly at his watch, he said: “I don’t have time.”

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It was already 9.40 pm, 20 minutes left for the deadline set by the Election Commission. Then, as the candidates lined up on either side with folded hands, he asked them to “bow properly”.

Whistles rang out each time he picked up from an incomplete sentence. “Jayalalithaa had said… she said meetings shouldn’t be conducted (in the late hours). 10 minutes, let them take 10 minutes. Is it a big deal?” he asked, visibly upset at the crowd not letting him complete the speech in time.

Meanwhile, a clash erupted in front of the dais between photographers and a supporter. True to his image, ‘Captain’ intervened: “Hey sir, please sit there. Why are you creating a ruckus? Only if you sit there can they see me… yes, please sit, please.” A big round of applause followed as the photographers obeyed. “If you get angry with them, they will write that Vijayakanth’s men attacked them,” he said, followed by cheers.

Turning to the mediapersons, who he usually ridicules, he said: “Had you been sitting there peacefully, there wouldn’t have been any problem. This is the problem.” Then, making a gesture with a raised hand, he said, “Don’t stretch small problems like a piece of rubber?”

After a brief pause, he took on 92-year old Karunanidhi, saying, “He says only the youth can save this state. Then all his candidates should have been young candidates, isn’t it?” Waiting for the applause to die down, he said, “Shhhh. Please… I have only 10 minutes.”

And then, he returned to the topic. “After 1967, we had only single-party rule in this state… This Amma (Jayalalithaa) says she made this state a power surplus state and won awards. What award? If this was an AIADMK meeting, they would have been stealing power for it, too,” he said, glancing dramatically at an electric post nearby. “Isn’t it, ayya (elder one)?” he asked a man in his 80s who stood next to the stage.

Talk about his health condition apart, Vijayakanth remains among the most admired actors in Tamil cinema, whose movies used to regularly hit the jackpot in B and C class theatres even if they bombed in cities. Naadathi, an 80-year-old farm worker, said the Vijayakanth in her mind would never get old. “You wouldn’t be seeing the grey hair of your children even if they get older. My 50-year-old son may be older to you but he is still a child for me. Captain is like that,” she said.

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