Rise Of The Native

Kamal Haasan, a wild card entry campaigning against communalism and corruption, may not even get to be a spoiler in the next polls.

- Amarnath K. Menon

The ‘big prize’ in Tamil Nadu’s political sweepstakes may be up for grabs given the void left behind by J. Jayalalithaa, who passed away last December, and M. Karunanidhi, who is now in his dotage. As has been the case for decades now, the titans of Tamil cinema are again the new contenders.

Screen legend Kamal Haasan is the latest in Tamil Nadu’s ever-expanding galaxy of movie star-turned-politicos, and the first for some time to publicly articulate a desire to occupy Fort Saint George, the seat of the state government. The actor said as much in an India today Television exclusive on September 21, even though he remained cagey about his plans to launch a political party. Clearly egged on by his huge fan following, which includes formidable numbers on social media, Kamal ‘set the cat among the pigeons’ by indulging in a bit of theatre first—calling on Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and then inviting Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for a meal in Chennai—before airing his political ambitions.

The actor’s antics have fuelled a great deal of interest and speculation in the state, coming at a time when the Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS)-led AIADMK government appears to be tottering. Just days earlier, in an overt bid to save the EPS ministry, legislative assembly speaker P. Dhanapal had ordered the disqualification of 18 AIADMK legislators who were supporting jailed party leader V.K. Sasikala’s nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran.