More than a year after J Jayalalithaa’s death, Chennai’s swanky Poes Garden is slowly turning to be the most happening place in Tamil Nadu’s politics, once again. With Rajinikanth’s political entry and his plans being much talked about, Poes Garden turned into the hub of political activity—which could play a key role in the future of the state—on Sunday.
Ahead of his much-awaited political tour, actor Kamal Haasan called on Rajinikanth at the latter’s residence at Raghava Veera Avenue in Poes Garden. The meeting is an outcome of several questions raised by the media and the common public about whether the two actors will come together as they have been talking about anti-corruption and cleansing the system.
The meeting of the two actor-turned-politicians went on for few minutes after which Rajinikanth clarified to the media waiting outside that both their paths will be different in politics like it was in cinema.
“It is a courtesy call and not a political meet. I met him and told him about my decision. I am meeting people I like before I begin my journey. Meeting him is part of friendship, not about politics," Haasan told reporters after his meeting with Rajinikanth.
After the meeting, a smiling Rajinikanth said, “Kamal wants to serve the people of Tamil Nadu. I will pray to god that he will attain success. My style and his are different in cinema. Likewise in politics too, it will be different. Kamal has not entered politics for fame or money and it was only to serve people of the state. I wish him good luck.”
Rajinikanth’s clarification and Haasan’s earlier remark while delivering a speech at Harvard University that he will not join hands with Rajinikanth “if is hue is saffron,” has cleared the air on the possibility of both actors going together in politics over the years after launching their political parties.
The statements will strengthen speculation that the two actors will be the two personalities around whom the politics of Tamil Nadu will revolve, like it did in the MGR-Karunanidhi and Karunanidhi-Jayalalithaa eras.
Rajinikanth’s clarification has come after fervent questions by people on the two actors going together. In fact, Haasan’s gesture on Sunday of calling on Rajinikanth was to reiterate the statement he made while talking to Barkha Dutt, consulting editor of THE WEEK in the US.
“We can exist as friends on one side. But polity is different. I am trying to make a difference to my state. Our general intent may be the good of the people. But I believe that there is a certain way in which good will have to come to the people. I don’t like to take a detour. It might happen. We’ll wait for his manifesto to be out. Mine will be out soon on the 21st,” he said.
“If it gels, in polity, for the sake of the people, a good alliance. if it is not full of lies, deceits and tacit under the table nods... that is no good for the people. If that is not there and we are able to see eye to eye on a point—maybe. But I don’t think so because in his very first announcement, he made some statements that gave him a hue—I hope it is not saffron. I hope his hue is not saffron.”
However, while Haasan’s plank is anti-corruption, Rajinikanth’s key catchphrase is spiritual politics, which he defines as 'honest politics' above corruption.
Of late, Rajinikanth has been visiting religious places and mutts while Haasan has been visiting left leaders. On Sunday, a few hours before meeting Rajinikanth, Haasan had called the media at his office to tell them about his tour program while Rajinikanth visited the Raghavendra Mutt at Triplicane in Chennai, to seek the Almighty’s blessings.
The two actors are known to be smart enough in making their films successful and staying atop in the film industry. More than this, the two know how to stay in the news before a launch—be it film or politics.
But this meet can't be looked at as just an advertising stunt before the launch of the party to keep them in the news. The meet and their statements thereafter are clear messages to the disgruntled leaders in
other parties in the state and also their fan clubs that they will not be together and can accommodate like-minded parties in their political movements.