Tamil Nadu’s Thalaivaa

There are intense speculations over Rajinikanth’s foray into politics. In two meetings with fans over a week, the superstar has given ample indications about floating a new party. The timing is perfect for such a venture. Given the leadership vacuum in state politics — compounded by an ailing Karunanidhi of DMK and AIADMK in-fighting — Thalaivaa, who enjoys a god-like stature among his legions of followers, hopes to find the road to political stardom paved.

What tilts the scales to his advantage is Rajini’s cordial relations with Narendra Modi. With the BJP on his side, the 66-year-old actor will find it easy to negotiate the treacherous terrain of politics. Having said that, Rajini should also be alive to the fact that politics is a different ballgame altogether, which demands a certain kind of astuteness that screen idols are often found lacking in. He needs to look no further than Amitabh Bachchan who gave up a lucrative career in Bollywood only to find his fingers burnt in the Bofors controversy.

Though Tamil Nadu has a rich legacy of screen legends leaving an enduring imprint on state politics, the circumstances leading to the rise of MGR, Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa will have little resonance in the current socio-political climate. If Rajini succeeds in realising his dream, it will be a triumph for an outsider who made Tamil Nadu his home. A Maharashtrian born in Karnataka, he would be a fine example of love lording over the son-of-the-soil cliché in state politics.