A standout feature of any dispute involving Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is the pavlovian speed with which the film world enters the picture. Protest marches with stars at the helm, expressions of support in the media, rabble-rousing speeches, black-badge demonstrations, dharnas, etc, are all quickly whipped up as the distinction between the reel world and real world are erased. In some cases, as the Bangalore-born Rajnikanth (in picture, right) found out today in Madras, the participation of stars from across the border is used as an instant and public test of their identity and loyalties.
But do the denizens of the world of make-believe—actors, directors, producers, “item girls”, stunt men, composers, technicians—represent a State any more or any less than any other professional? Aside from their not inconsiderable hold on the masses which helps raise the temperature, does their participation help or hamper the resolution of emotive matters of land, language and water? In Tamil Nadu, where cinema and power-politics intersect easily (M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi) stars beyond their sell-by date (like Vijaykanth and Sharath Kumar) with one foot in the political cesspool, have a vested interest in entering the fray. But should Karnataka blindly follow suit?
Or is it all just eye-candy for star-struck fans? An escape from their maddening lives?
***
Photograph: Rajnikanth with Sharath Kumar (left) at the day-long fast to condemn the attack on theatres screening Tamil films in Karnataka over the Hogenakkal issue. Courtesy: Chennai Online
Tags: Cauvery, Churumuri, Hogenakal, Rajnikanth, Sharath Kumar, Vijaykanth
4 April 2008 at 3:51 pm
On a tangential note I remember images from similar protests relating to the report of the Gokak Committee- wonder how that helped the cause of Kannada in the long term?!
4 April 2008 at 5:08 pm
When cinema theatres showing the vernacular language films are destroyed to show once protest to-wards that state, there is nothing wrong if the stars, represent the state, to project the problem of the state in a peaceful manner.
4 April 2008 at 5:18 pm
Yen Gaby Avare intha prashane na keluvudu? The reasoning is very simple. If you indulge in violence, you are actually stimulating the economy by creating a demand for the damaged goods. Isn’t this a selfless action?
Consequently, more power and hence protection and extortion money will flow into the hands of KaRaVe and other similar organizations. Doesn’t that automatically help the cause of Kannada?
I fail to understand how this is not obvious! Sorry I have to go now and stone a few buses, break a few windows etc.
4 April 2008 at 5:34 pm
Thanks hinfinity it does explain thingz well- actually nanna hesaru Gaby aadhroo I am a Goobe! Happy rioting to you.
4 April 2008 at 5:44 pm
it happened once, legend called dr.raj.
he symbolised talent ,discipline and humanity— which is kannada wayof life.
today’s stars cannot speak their mother tongue fluently for few minutes, let alone representing their state.
4 April 2008 at 5:50 pm
On Mysore road people claiming to be sympathisers of Karnataka people, are going round and collecting donation from the traders and passer bi public, they stop cars, scooters. As per them they require this fund to keep the agitation going. They want only paper money, not coins!
Easy picking, Make hay while the SUN (udaya) shines
4 April 2008 at 8:38 pm
Well, to start with, why anything to do with tamil gets hit when somebody wants space in dailys….
Can any one of the shouting people, tell why the damn project has to be stopped..when the water is already counted on TN account. what TN do with it, is TN’s business..
Is craziness, watered in banglore in all such possible ways..
do the guys realize, that people of karnataka origin, live peacefully, all through out TN and are being counted as Tamils.
R these guys any different from the Racist, German Nazis..
4 April 2008 at 8:43 pm
Sticking to the intention of a poll.
I vote YES.
Stars, artists, talented people, *also* represent a State, and which state is directly related to the language they exhibit their talent in. So it is but agreeable that Rajani represent TN while being in TN and making his living out of exhibiting his talents using Tamil as carrier.
That said, reflecting on similar grounds inside our state too, people from such walks of life do represent our state. But unfortunate fact remains that there is no life in the present generation of our talented souls. They have all lost their blood, and even gender. As eunuchs, they seem to be asking “is it good to expect stars/artists to come out and stand for a nation, for a state?”
It is but sad that this is happening on a land where even Shikandi had stood in the forefront and helped get a result (in war) favourable to the Good side.
But the real question in this context is, can we expect anything good from these eunuchs at any point of time at all? Is it a waste of time to do so?
Answers – NO and YES!
4 April 2008 at 10:08 pm
I wonder as to the darest reason why that super nan maga Jaggesh has not stood up for any election, yet.
4 April 2008 at 10:54 pm
When cricketers , politicians , businessmen can claim to represent the state , why not ??
Iam told Ravichandrana and Ramesh are BORN Tamilians , but earing bread and butter in Kannada Filmdom.So where do they fit vis a vis Rajnikanth.
Are they Kannadigas or Tamilians ??
for the blog readers , MGR was a Mallu.
5 April 2008 at 9:18 am
Rajagopal,
Iam told Ravichandrana and Ramesh are BORN Tamilians
thale maga, thale! thale beku yochisakke. biDu ninhatra yenu maatu. sigh!
5 April 2008 at 11:32 am
Water war
The present eye ball to eye ball confrontation on Hogenakkal project on drinking water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has become a tragic-comedy drama and has descended to absurd levels. Now the Film Federations of both the states are arrained against each other reminiscent of the Kurukshetra war of Mahabharatha. While Karunanidhi may be compared to Drithrasstra, the tragic hero is Rajanikanth as Karna.However, in this Kaliyuga we can not see Krishna coming to save poor Cauvery being ravished in a free for all orgy in which both states take their turns. This is the tragedy that is being played out all across the country for one cause or the other while aam admi pays the price.
8 April 2008 at 12:34 pm
>>@Rajagopal Says:
Iam told Ravichandrana and Ramesh are BORN Tamilians…
>>
You seem to be avid reader of ‘The Hindu’, like Churumuri… ;-)
16 April 2008 at 8:33 pm
Actors should confine themselves to what they can do best – act.
As Aamir Khan does, sit with Medha Patkar one day, mouth some really good dialogues in Tare Zameen Par one day, declare he’ll run with the olympic torch one day and drown bottles of coca cola the other, what sort of a picture does he try to convey – a bundle of contradictions!!
I’d be glad if Politicians don’t take the help of cinema stars to fuel regional discord in an issue as emotion driven as this..please!!