No actor in recent times has fretted so much over a movie script as Chiranjeevi. Keen to make a mark with his 150th film, the actor-turned-politician-turned-actor wanted to ensure his landmark film would not be an also-ran. So since the time he lost his tourism ministry after the UPA2 government was booted out of office, Chiranjeevi has been reading stories. The fact that his Congress party, thanks to its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, had been reduced to zero in the residuary state, meant Chiranjeevi the neta had precious little to do. Every director in Tollywood would give a limb and more to direct the Megastar, which is why many of them - some openly, many discreetly - lined up to narrate stories to him. Chiranjeevi in his four decades in the film industry has easily been the most successful star in the post-NTR-ANR era, so much so that when he launched himself into politics in 2008, many expected him to be another NTR. That wasn't to be and Chiranjeevi, despite some deft moves to become a Rajya Sabha MP, never sparkled on the political stage. It is understandable that Chiranjeevi is playing it safe. His 150th is an action movie, Kathilaantodu, a remake of Tamil hit Katthi (which means, the knife) that starred Vijay in a double role. The story focuses on the issue of farmers committing suicide, a subject that will find resonance among filmgoers in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is a home production for Chiranjeevi, with son actor Ram Charan turning producer, to ensure complete control over the product. Unlike Amitabh Bachchan, who at his age is experimenting with very interesting roles that are landing on his table and even Rajinikanth who has with Kabali moved away from the play-safe conveyer belt of films he did in recent years, Chiranjeevi does not want to move away from his image. That perhaps has to do with a reluctance to experiment with a landmark number film and two, keeping a second innings in politics in mind. Chiranjeevi's last three big movies before entering politics - Indra, Stalin and Tagore - played a critical role in building a more positive public image for Chiranjeevi. In fact, the evocative SP Balasubramanyam number Nenu Saitham from Tagore was chosen as the theme song of Chiranjeevi's party, Praja Rajyam. Chiranjeevi does not have many hopes of making a political comeback with the Congress. But an alternate route that uses a combination of his Kapu community card, brother Pawan Kalyan and the BJP could always work for him. Kapus are 27% of Andhra's population and Kapu unrest demanding reservations, has been growing in Andhra Pradesh. Add to that, Pawan's desire to create an electoral splash in 2019 and the BJP scouting leaders with a pan-Andhra appeal. It is a political marriage waiting to happen. Kathilaantodu therefore is not to be seen as Chiranjeevi merely looking to do a ₹200 crore movie. The choice of the subject indicates that if handled well, it could well be a vehicle that could project Chiranjeevi 2.0 to the electorate and fetch electoral dividends in 2019. Or going by the title of the film, the cutting edge.
