CHENNAI: Raju Mahalingam, the former creative head of Lyca Productions, appears to have been sidelined in actor Rajinikanth’s fans club, Rajini Makkal Mandram.
Mahalingam was in February named the secretary of the outfit that the actor was planning to convert into a political party. The appointment of a relatively young person, amidst those who were members of the club for decades, is said to have caused much heartburn among old-timers.
While the outfit’s administrator V M Sudhakar recently denied that Mahalingam had been sidelined, it is learnt that none of the communications to the functionaries of the outfit was signed by Mahalingam of late. It is Sudhakar who appears to be issuing all the circulars off late. Until three weeks ago, it was Mahalingam who was issuing all the statements on behalf of the fans club.
Mahalingam was also absent during the recent interaction the State-level functionaries had with workers of the districts. “We were categorically told not to get in touch with Raju Mahalingam regarding any of the activities of the fans club,” said one of the functionaries who recently attended the consultations in Chennai at the actor’s Raghavendra hall. A few other functionaries Express spoke to also said that they too were told not to have any contact with Mahalingam. They all believe that Mahalingam has been sidelined over Rajinikanth being upset over his ‘misconducts’ and complaints raised against him.
Mahalingam had earlier told during interviews that he got to know Rajinikanth during the making of one of the films financed by Lyca Productions and later decided to join him in the outfit. Within the club, there was much displeasure among old-timers over his appointment for the top post.
Others upset
Two leaders had resigned from the club as they were upset over ‘outsider’ Mahalingam’s move of taking unknown persons in the fans club