Is Tamil Nadu politics set to see a battle of the superstars?
FollowIt was expected that when Kamal Haasan entered the world of 140 characters, he would be quite a character to deal with on the micro blogging site.
More than one and a half years later, the legend of Indian cinema is showing just why he is not a star on the big screen alone; he can set your handset buzzing as well.
His tweet on Tuesday evening set the rumour mills on fire. That Kamal was set to do a Rajinikanth - i.e enter politics. As is his wont, Kamal's tweets were cryptic, almost like a riddle which could be interpreted in more ways than one.
He referred the possibility of him being a chief minister when he wrote, "Mudiveduthaal yaamey mudhalvar" which translates to, "If I decide, I am the chief minister/leader".
The first tweet was philosophically filmy and open to interpretation. The translation from the Tamil original went something like this. "For those who are roaming around without anything in place and for my friend who has everything in place, you will hear a voice soon. The truth is the mushroom that grew in yesterday's rain and is getting dried in the hot sun."
This tweet led some people on social media to sarcastically ask, "Can Kamal tweet in Tamil please?!!"
The next tweet, with a bit more sunshine, is what set the Cooum on fire. It read: "Let us criticise as no one is king now. Let us spring up heartily as we are not kings like them. If routed and dead, I am militant. If I decide, I am the chief minister or leader. Am I a slave because I bow? Am I a loser if I eschew the crown? It is wrong to chase them as fools. Paths that are not searched cannot be seen. Come along with me, my friend because the one who tries to cull absurdity can only be a leader."
24 hours later, Kamal decided to junk poetry for prose and in a two-page letter, called upon the people of Tamil Nadu to question the government. Advising them to do so on the digital platform so that they cannot be junked, Kamal mocked leaders like BJP's H Raja who called him spineless and asked him to enter politics instead of merely indulging in criticism. "I entered politics the day I took part in the anti-Hindi agitation," he wrote.
Kamal's call is Shankar-esque in nature, a Utopian call for people's revolt of sorts. Complaining, the actor believes, will keep the ruling establishment on its toes. Because the system in his opinion is badly in need of an overhaul.
"There is corruption in every department. Tamil Nadu has overtaken Bihar as the most corrupt state in India. The film industry is the one among the many industries asphyxiated by the prevailing systemic corruption in the state," he said last week.
That comment is what set among the pigeons with the AIADMK senior ministers going out of their way to take him on. While one threatened Kamal with a tax audit, another called him a "third rate actor" who is out of work. Another called him a "human being not worth commenting on".
If the reactions are anything to go by, they indicate that the ruling party feels threatened by someone who is articulate, commands respect and can take the veshti off many of the ruling elite.
Unlike Rajinikanth who chooses to stay mum on issues that are too controversial, Kamal wades into them. Whether it was openly supporting the Jallikattu uprising at the Marina in January or his criticism of the handling of the Chennai floods of 2015, Kamal calls a spade a spade.
The AIADMK dislikes him for the manner in which he took on the Jayalalithaa regime when his 'Vishwaroopam' was targeted by Muslim groups in 2013. Which is why it sees an outspoken Kamal as a dangerous commodity. He is like that live bomb that has to be defused.
Media demands simple Yes or No answers to questions, a strategy that does not work with Kamal. Ask 'Will Kamal enter politics?' and the actor will explain that he practises politics every time he votes.
If Rajini's 'Will he, won't he?' is enigmatic, Kamal's a clue a day is a tease. Almost like a film script that wants to build up towards an entertaining intermission. If nothing else, Tamil Nadu is set for interesting political times. The grapevine has it that Kamal has increased his public appearances only to raise his brand equity.
His critics point to his decision to host the Tamil version of 'Bigg Boss' as an indication that the star is facing a money crunch.
In fact, when a fringe Hindu group calls the show anti-Tamil culture, it only increases its TRPs. Kamal is also going to be the brand ambassador of 'Tamil Thalaivas', the team that will represent the state in the Pro Kabbadi league.
As far as the political kabaddi maidan goes, Kamal with his outspoken temperament will be a misfit in any political party. Which is why the jury is out on whether he will be seen by political parties as an antidote to Rajinikanth, should the Superstar finally embrace politics.
One option is that given his antipathy to the AIADMK, he could do for the DMK what Rajini did in 1996. An interesting development for whatever it is worth is that he has accepted the invite to attend DMK mouthpiece 'Murasoli' Daily's Platinum jubilee celebrations in August.
Grab the popcorn.
