Can Rajini do an MGR?

After dangling a carrot before the people of Tamil Nadu for over 20 years, Rajinikanth has finally taken the plunge. The question that begs an answer is: Will he be the next MGR? The late J Jayalalithaa also came from the film fraternity but despite being a mass leader with great popularity, both her aura and legacy were very different from MGR’s. The former was an effortless charmer and, in addition to his Robin Hood film image, exuded a nonchalance and simplicity that got him adulation; Jayalalithaa was more feared, and at best inspired awe rather than genuine affection.

Mediapersons who have covered Tamil Nadu politics and bureaucrats who have worked closely with both the Dravidian leaders would any day choose MGR over Jayalalithaa. Not that either was accessible to the media, as another CM and DMK leader M Karunanidhi was in his heydays, but while Jaya showed only contempt for the media, as does Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MGR skilfully avoided the media, without belittling journalists.

Unlike Modi or Jayalaithaa, MGR was much more tolerant of media criticism, and at best ignored it, telling his close confidantes: “Let the journalists write what they want; do you think people decide to vote for me or not after reading newspapers?

Returning to Rajnikanth, and the million-dollar question, the answer is simple: Only if he can pull off one of the zillion stunts, as in those famous Rajini jokes which are a staple diet on some social media platforms.

In real life, though, the path to political success goes through rough and tortuous paths. As for MGR, he already had a huge platform by way of the DMK, from which he launched the AIADMK, contested the election in 1977, and never lost his seat after that. He had joined the DMK under CN Annadurai, and grew in its ranks first as a Member of the Legislative Council and then as an MLA. So when he and the then chief minister Karunanidhi fell out with each other and he was expelled from the DMK, he already had a political legacy, which Rajinikanth doesn’t have.

Similarly, Jayalalithaa was also introduced to politics and promoted within the AIADMK by MGR; so it was easy for her to take on MGR’s mantle. But Rajinikanth doesn’t have any of these advantages. Charisma alone cannot take you to the CM’s position.

Also, as a senior bureaucrat who had worked with MGR and watched him at close quarters, points out, MGR had over long years carefully cultivated his image, “whereas Rajnikant has a mixed image. So without any political experience or legacy… heading a panchayat council, being an MLA, etc, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for Rajinikanth, to make a mark in politics. True, we Tamils have a terrible, or fatal attraction towards politicians and vote them to power… can an Amitabh Bachchan, despite his immense popularity, ever hope to become Maharashtra’s chief minister… but see what happened to Vijaykanth? He even projected himself as Karuppu MGR, but fell on his face”. However brilliant an IAS officer, can he get a secretary-level post immediately? he adds.

The other critical factor is Rajini’s age. Late 60s is hardly appropriate to launch a career in a different genre. And Rajini’s style has always been different. Even in an era when intensive marketing is required for all movies, and the biggest of Bollywood stars, be it Shah Rukh, Akshay or Salman, line up to promote their latest releases, have you ever seen Rajini hop from one TV studio to another to promote his film? His fans do the promos and marketing for him. But politics doesn’t work that way. There are no proxies for top leaders, as Rahul Gandhi discovered in the Gujarat elections. Because he stayed the course through hectic campaigning, admirably retaining his composure and civility in a campaign marred by negativity and hate, the Congress managed to come so far in a State where it lacked both grassroots presence and local netas. But for Modi’s passionate oratory, the Gujarat results would have been different.

Does Rajini have the passion and energy to go the whole hog? Travel to every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu, braving the heat and dust of the State’s interiors, meeting people and convincing them that his quest is to provide a clean and effective administration in a State that has been diving in key parameters while breaking records in corruption? Will he stay the course, even after an initial defeat or a lukewarm response? Only time will tell.

Then there is always the speculation over Kamal Haasan joining Rajinikanth, which was strengthened after the two shared the podium at a Malaysia fundraiser last week.

But yes, Tamil Nadu badly needs a saviour. Will Rajini surprise us? Well, hope burns eternal in the human heart.

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