BEHINDWOODS CELEBRITY COLUMN

With our national and regional parties announcing their candidates for every constituency they’re contesting, the longest election in the country’s history will yet again witness film actors wearing their campaigning hat either for themselves or for the nominee/party they support. As the dust of election propaganda rises with eloquent speeches, elegant manifestos and electoral promises, over 800 million eligible voters will get the opportunity to vote for progress and change. In this balloting shindig that clamors for the voters’ time and attention, popular film and television actors in this election too will have their share of wooing the voters. An Indian actor is a citizen of this country like any other, standing for elections like any other nominee aged over 25 years for a constituency. There are no special rights or privileges given to canvass their credentials as against the non-filmy candidates. And yet, the trajectory of successful actor-turned-politicians across all States from the respective film world in most cases ensures their continuous nomination and participation in the elections.

Various reasons float around to reason out why actors are an integral part of the candidates’ list of most parties. Call it the popularity appeal, the pull of star power or brand equity they enjoy with their fans, their involvement in the democratic process has been instrumental in amassing the public’s support for the party/individual. A movie star is always asked the inevitable question in interviews if there are plans to enter politics anytime in the near future with some parrying it diplomatically or most refuting the rumors if any. It can be reasonable to assume that the public makes a star out of an actor and in return they hope for the star to give back something in return by becoming their elected representative in powering their progress. The created persona of a crusader for change, standing up for people’s rights and fighting the bad guys and immoral elements through their characters in movies almost becomes a qualifying perception that they’re likely to mirror the same in reality once elected.

Tamizh cinema has been a platform fora considerable number of actor-turned-politicians including MGR, Sivaji, Jayalalitha, Vijayakanth, Radha Ravi, Sarath Kumar, Napoleon, Khushboo, Karthik, Ramarajan, SS Chandran, S V Shekhar, Bhagyaraj and many more with a few dazzling in politics as much as their acting career and a few failing to create a ripple as compared to their repertoire of film work. Some of their films have had socially relevant messages or party allegiance displayed with subtle background props of framed pictures of the leaders they admire or song lyrics indicating their silently nurtured political ambitions. While it is certainly an advantage to break the campaign clutter and have a good chance of garnering the fan base votes, actors have their share of challenges in surviving in a political environment. Actors dabbling in politics are required to take ample time away from their acting profession and need the mental stamina to sustain themselves in a pressurized environment without being derided into a failed or unsuccessful politician. Actors have an image to live up to and if the ideals of canvassing or post electoral performance clash with the voters’ expectations, no amount of the stardom can stop them from losing their security deposit or be voted out the next time they contest as the case may be.

While some actors have directly contested the polls, comedian actors like Senthil and Vadivelu feature on the list of vigorous campaigners of the parties they’re associated with.  Actor, lawyer and journalist Cho Ramasamy who was directly elected by the former President of India Mr. K.R. Narayanan to the Rajya Sabha, went on to serve as an MP from 1999 – 2005 and currently considered an influential political advisor w.r.t Tamilnadu politics. If star power is anything to reckon with during elections, most parties queue up the roads of Poes Garden for a photo-op and seek the support of ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth in endorsing their party although he has till date steered clear from actively contesting the polls as a candidate himself.

While ‘Padma Bhushan’ Kamal Haasan hasn’t bared his preference to any specific party, he has come forward as the State’s poll ambassador for the upcoming General Elections to spread the message of ethical voting on behalf of the Election Commission. With the issue of buying votes for money by various parties coming to light in the 2009 Thirumangalam byelections, the timing couldn’t have been better to dissuade voters from being tempted to accept money in any situation and vote for the party in question. If there’s one person this movie-passionate State will pause and listen to what a pubic awareness video has to say, it’s the firm voice of Mr. Haasan that unequivocally urges us voters to not sell our self-respect by selling our vote.

First-time voters are gearing up to get their finger inked this summer,working people are being chartered from abroad on special discounted flights so they could exercise their voting right and the electoral mind is being bombarded with full page color ads, television commercials and messages on social networking sites and mobile apps. As the battleground is getting ready to decide our country’s future in the costliest election we have ever seen, whether pining for your favorite actor or opting for candidates from varied backgrounds and professions, let us use our discretion, let us embrace growth, let us march to vote right. As aptly as the video goes:

Vote without fear. Vote for democracy. Vote according to your conscience. Jai Hind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cu0FVEphr0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGOag7sTIAM