Off-screen, the political act

There is nothing covert about it in south India, especially in Tamil Nadu. Cinestars, screenplay writers and producers have, since the 8216;50s, been completely in sync with the politics and social upheavals of the times. It has not just been the case of M.G. Ramachandran who played radical roles and spouted lines often written by the present chief minister of Tamil Nadu screenplay writer 8220;Dr Kalaingnar8221;, M. Karunanidhi. Cinema had been the vocation of at least two former chief ministers of this state, who then chose to formally move into public life and play the roles almost as big as their cutouts.

In Andhra Pradesh, of course, there was N.T. Rama Rao father-in-law of Chandrababu Naidu. The film actor who began his theatre career playing a woman in an award-winning role, through his 290-odd films, fired the imagination of the electorate when he was cast as Lord Krishna and then later, as Sri Venkateswara. NTR8217;s story as a 8220;self-made8221; Telugu hero became bigger as details emerged of him having even taken to delivering milk on his bicycle in Vijayawada to supplement his family income. Finally, with a shrewd mix of caste politics he spoke of the empowerment of the Kamma caste, as opposed to just Reddys, which the Congress of the time had become closely associated with and the cause of 8220;injury to Andhra pride8221;, he formed the first-ever non-Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, and that too within just nine months of forming the Telugu Desam Party.

And now, today, it would seem as though NTR8217;s juggernaut has come full circle, as the TDP and Congress watch Chiranjeevi, the sensational Telugu hero, contemplating a career in politics, trying to take along the backward castes, SCs, tribals and rural poor. He has been much more mysterious, as nothing is official; but there are urgent whispers about the meetings he is having with political scientists on how to best go about his 8220;combination8221;. Chiranjeevi is a Kapu, the caste that is again said to be out of both the Congress8217;s and the TDP8217;s scheme of things. While Chiranjeevi is keen to not be seen as heading a Kapu party, a little bit of caste can only spike the political brew and make it headier.

In Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth has already given some indications of keeping his options open, by periodically repeating, 8220;I was once a bus conductor, today I am an actor, tomorrow, who knows?8221; His recent biography, My Name is Rajinikanth, is revealing. In 1995, when he met the then prime minister, Narasimha Rao, he virtually refused the offer of the candidacy of chief minister. Ever since, there has been intense speculation on how the powerful and sometimes militant Rajni fan clubs would be asked to vote.

Basically, politics in at least two southern states could significantly turn on these two actors and their assessment of whether the time is right to allow their personalities to filter through the prism of electoral politics. In fact, it is believed that till a few months ago, Chiranjeevi was keen on joining Mayawati and offer her an entry point in Andhra Pradesh, but it was the BSP chief who did not want another pop star in the party and refused the offer!

The relationship between a film star, his/her popular appeal and the stand s/he takes in public life ties in with the politics of the times 8212; sometimes it can just be the characters they play and the public functions they patronise. Even in a state with a very different political ethos, like Kerala, megastar Mammootty didn8217;t think twice before participating in the CPM8217;s youth wing celebrations recently.

In the case of Hindi cinema, the business is perhaps so big and lucrative that it lacks the ability to 8220;focus8221; on political constituencies in the way the regional cinema does and that Mumbai stars continue to think that there is a high opportunity cost to a life in politics. Perhaps it is the size and spread of the market. Hindi cinema has, of course, had its radical phase with Kaifi Azmi, Sahir Ludhianvi and others: Mehboob Films, in fact, had a hammer and a sickle prominently displayed in the titles. There was also a brief phase when cinema met politics openly, when the story of anti-Congressism was encapsulated by one banned film, Kissa Kursi Ka, in the mid-8217;70s. Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, Dharmendra and Govinda have entered Parliament. But overall, the attitude of cinema stars in the North to politics is very cautious. It is still one where there is less risk-taking, and stars are much less on the political frontline.

This is even more remarkable as the number of films that take a sharp, irreverent look at the times, the politics and politicians has increased, or at least remained the same over the years. It may not be an Ardh Satya now, or an Agneepath, but there is the new Khosla ka Ghosla, Mr and Mrs Iyer or even Shaurya, which make not-so-subtle political points, each in its own way, about 8220;the system8221;.

There may never be an overt recognition of the fact that those who watch cinema and those who star on the screen have a relationship that goes beyond paisa wasool entertainment and has immense social possibilities. Popular stars help shape popular opinion, and can sometimes, through the roles, lines or themes they choose, induce a yearning for change in the viewer. Perhaps because this power can be turned into opportunity if filtered through legitimate politics, but also easily misused if used only to incite emotions, is what also burdens star popularity with great responsibility.

There are ways in which the politics of the South would for ever remain distinct from that of the North. But, there is a need for a greater understanding of the phenomenon in the South. As large parties scout for coalition partners, the fate of each state is in many ways locked into another8217;s.

seema.chishtiexpressindia.com