His movies are described as ‘‘non-vegetarian.’’ In other words, they are hard-core action films with a strong message, usually about truth, justice or good governance. No ‘‘vegetarian’’ items like comedy or running around trees dilute his films. Vijaykanth is one of Tamil cinema’s most popular action heroes. Now he has dared to rush into an action-packed world where most fear to tread—politics. He has started his own party, the Desiyu Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam or DMDK and intends to challenge Tamil Nadu’s bi-polar political world of Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK and M. Karunanidhi’s DMK. He has joined politics because he is convinced Tamil Nadu needs a third force, especially because politics in the state has degenerated into a vicious rivalry between Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. Vijaykanth, 53, has acted in 148 films in a career spanning nearly three decades. The meat of his films are his stunts, which he does himself, however difficult, daring or dangerous they may be. That should prepare him for the rough and tumble of politics. All his films have strong moral underpinnings, each with a message, whether it is battling against corruption or fighting for justice. This has won him public adulation. In Tamil Nadu, the line between reel and real is blurred and the hero often acquires a larger-than-life stature in real life. His carefully chosen action and message-oriented films have given Vijaykanth the halo of a good man who keeps his word. Much like MGR, who was known as the man with the golden heart. Like MGR, Vijaykanth, too, is a philanthropist. One question has dogged him all through his adult life. As he explained in an exclusive interview: ‘‘If I as an individual can do so much philanthropy, why is it that a government that commands so much money, resources, power and people, cannot do public good, cannot provide the basic necessities of life to the people?’’ Now he has entered politics to demonstrate that a government can deliver. Asked what his focus would be, Vijaykanth says ‘‘Poverty and corruption.’’ And the two are deeply connected. Governments don’t deliver on their promises to the people because of the stranglehold of corruption. ‘‘In a corrupt situation, there is a bribe-giver and a bribe-taker. We have to create a situation where work gets done without the need for a person to give a bribe.’’ Vijaykanth’s role models are MGR and Kamaraj. MGR for his philanthropy and Kamaraj for his leadership and simplicity. For all his fame, wealth and charisma, Vijaykanth dresses simply in khadi dhoti and shirt and a thick gold chain is the only ornament he wears. He lives in a very modest home in Chennai’s thickly populated Saligramam neighbourhood. There is a remarkable simplicity, almost innocence, in his speech and mannerism, a very typical Tamilian trait. He also has a quiet sense of humour and appears mild and soft-spoken. Says his wife Prema, who is his alter ego: ‘‘He looks simple and quiet, but he is very bold in his decisions.’’ Son of a reasonably well-to-do rice mill owner from Madurai, Vijaykanth had an easy childhood. But he went against his father’s wishes when he decided to join films in his early 20s. In the initial years, he faced financial difficulties as he battled long spells of joblessness. But persistence paid off. But even after he made it big, life was a roller-coaster ride. ‘‘There was a time when I had become a big star but I couldn’t afford five litres of petrol,’’ he remembers. In terms of political philosophy, Vijaykanth is a secularist and an egalitarian. He disregards caste. In his father’s rice mill, he removed the separate pots of water for dalits and upper castes. Everybody had to drink from the same water pot. When he first entered the film world, stars and unit hands used to get different quality of food. Meals came in sealed packets and the goodies were reserved for the stars. He introduced the system of serving all on thalis or banana leaves. Everybody ate the same food. Vijaykanth’s first political rally held last month was a huge success. But the question on everyone’s mind is: Will crowds turn to votes? Vijaykanth is hopeful. He has a network of 40,000 fans associations spread all over the state. Each unit comprises 100 loyal fans. So even though his is a new party, it comes with an inbuilt cadre of four million committed workers. Vijaykanth does not like to be drawn into specifics when it comes to his plans and strategy. ‘‘That is precisely the kind of information that should not fall into the hands of my opponents,’’ he says. ‘‘I have taken the broom to clean the dirty drainage. It’s a small step, but it’s a start,’’ he says. Perhaps he will achieve in politics what he achieved in films: bring about non-vegetarian politics. Politics, where action counts more than empty promises. anita.pratap@gmail.com
