CHENNAI : Poes Garden, the area that was abandoned by politicians and cadres after the arrest of AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, has suddenly come alive in recent days. The walls that were draped in emerald green posters with the face of an iconic woman are now taking non-uniform shades of purple and grey. The face in highlight is that of a man who rocked Tamil cinema.
Thalaiva, Super Star, Baasha or simply Rajinikanth, the icon has once again hinted an interest in politics. “This cycle never ends. Once every few years, a political wind blows on this street instead of the neighbouring one. It dies off before you know,” assures an inquisitive local driver.
Tamil Nadu, however, won’t be surprised if Rajini plunges into politics as the state has seen several cinema icons make the transition to being political leaders. However, given the actor’s history of remaining indecisive, even his fans doubt if he will make a successful entry into the arena.
While enthusiastic fans have started sticking posters, the more prudent ones wait and watch on their televisions when a crowd forms at his gate. Reality is different though. Except for a couple of police officers, there is nobody with political intent on his street last week.
Outside Veda Nilayam, where former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa lived, there are more police officers and even a couple of intelligence officers. “What crowd? I learnt that there was a crowd only by watching TV after going home,” Saraswathi V exclaims.
The street vendor has been selling food for the last 27 years in the same spot. She is the longest-standing spectator to all political developments at Poes Garden.
It’s 2pm and Saraswathi is busy serving food to a crowd of customers she knows by name. While a series of Rajini posters adorn the wall behind her, the crowd seeks the two apolitical women in front of it. Saraswathi and her daughter Jaya Lakshmi remember times when they had to cook 15kg of rice to serve 300 police officers and other political people, she sighs at her 3kg pot that is half full at 4pm.