Tamilnadu and Cinema !

Theories on political mobilization talk of how political actors garner support for themselves by playing on the identities of the people . Some , use racial identities . Others use language , religion , geography and many more ! I want to add one more to their exhaustive list . The identities that cinema stars create for themselves in the minds of the people. Tamilnadu is one classic example of how this has been done repeatedly and with stupendous success. There have been other cases all over India ( N.T.Ramarao , Rajkumar , Shathrughan Sinha , Govinda) and even elsewhere in the world . Why , even the United States was not spared ( Remember President Reagan ?? ) But , in Tamilnadu , the pattern seems to be repeating itself again and again ! First it was M.Karunanidhi , then M.G.Ramachandran ( MGR ) followed by J.Jayalaltiha , then Vijakanth and now the Superstar , Rajinikanth , for the nth time , is considering jumping into the political fray !

Cinema stars in Tamilnadu have had the uncanny ability to reach out to the common man. In times , where he has lost all hope in the system , they have been able to create a virtual universe where they question the evils of the Indian system such as corruption , dishonesty , unscrupulousness of the politicians etc on his behalf . They have been able to do on screen what the "aam aadmi" has always wanted to do . Bash the baddies and create utopia where the whole world lives in harmony and happiness. In doing this , they create so much goodwill in the minds of the audience that it is tempting to assume that the stars really mean what they say on screen.
Audience, here , is not an illiterate audience that lacks the ability to discern between the good and the bad . But , an educated urban audience that seems to consciously make this choice . This makes it even more puzzling ! Just google Rajnikanth and you will be surprised to find the innumerable number of blogs that celebrate the arrival of the Superstar into politics. At one point , it is these individuals who complain about the lack of people with the right capacities in positions of importance within the state and at the other we have the same people heralding Rajni as the saviour of Tamilnadu. What they fail to realize is that the system has not changed , only the actors have changed.

Does Rajnikanth really have the political acumen that the complicated nature of Tamilnadu politics demands ? Does he really have the credentials that could support his claim for the highest office in the state ? Doe he have the experience to shoulder the immense responsibility that the position demands ? How much ever hard I try , the answer to these questions are all on the negative. But the people of Tamilnadu , in their quest for change , for the emergence of the choice between Jaya and Karunanidhi have now zeroed in on this man who has no record of any political experience and whose whims and fancies are far more unstable than that of a pampered adolescent .

My sincere to advice to Mr.Rajnikanth is to please stay away from politics . We have enough problems to think of and we don't need him adding to our woes. If he really wants to enter the political arena let him first demonstrate his competence , through other means , rather than throwing out empty promises ! Let him create institutions that show they are capable of bringing the much desired change to the administrative change that the Tamilnadu system needs. If he succeeds , we would all be more than happy to see him in office !