CHENNAI: Kamal Haasan’s intention to play the lead role in Tamil Nadu has taken the state politics by storm. The moves of one of the multi-faceted personalities in film industry in this direction gained momentum months after the death of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and the pace became faster after Rajinikanth dropped definite clues for entry into politics.Last week, he said without the slightest hesitation that he was ready to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, “if there’s the possibility”. Haasan—screenwriter, lyricist, dancer, playback singer and choreographer—who is passionate about bringing in innovations in Tamil cinema, has been willing to confine himself to acting till recently.
Though Kamal has been proud of his Left leanings on one hand and his affinity for Dravidian ideologies on the other, true to his nick name Universal Hero, the actor now seems to be emerging as a pan-Indian politician. Recently, he met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and now, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and in the coming days, likely to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
When he visited Delhi a few months ago, he called on Kejriwal and at that time, it was not seen with a political connotation. But when Kejriwal reciprocated Kamal’s gesture by visiting his residence in Chennai last week, the sexagenarian actor was known as a politician-designate and purpose of the meeting was an open secret.
Now, there are speculations that Haasan is planning to meet Banerjee in the coming days. The actor, while attending the inauguration of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) in November 2013, had hailed her as Mamatadi.After seeing Banerjee running around the stage to counter check all arrangements are foolproof for the festival, Haasan, with a bit of surprise, said: “She is a dynamo of energy and very surprisingly not interested in sitting in the chair for too long.”As far as his political leanings are concerned, Haasan was vocal when Tamil Nadu faced certain key issues—Cauvery water dispute and Sri Lankan Tamils issue.
In 1983, Kamal led an agitation condemning the attack on Tamils in Lanka. In 2013, all the actors including Haasan and Rajinikanth staged a fast for Lankan Tamils. When Rajinikanth undertook a fast over Cauvery water dispute, Haasan paid a visit to him and said, “Rajinikanth’s today’s fast clearly indicates that he is moving towards politics.” But Haasan’s friend is yet to take that firm step which he has already taken.
Someone has to clean the quagmire and make this place habitable for people. I’m not hungry for power but we will seize the opportunity if that’s the only way to deliver for the people.”
Kamal Haasan in September 2017
Politics is too demeaning for me. In this scenario, the kind of politics I want to indulge will get me killed in 365 days. The rest of them fight for seats, they don’t fight for ideology. They cannot be my leaders.” Kamal Haasan in April 2009