In Tamil Nadu, the place motion pictures have lengthy offered symbols, metaphors and generally grammar for politics, one careless line can do extra injury than per week’s campaigning.
That lesson has come crashing down on actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) over the previous few days after one in every of its senior leaders, Aadhav Arjun, selected to reward its leaders by disparaging its greatest famous person Rajinikanth.
What adopted was greater than only a combat between fan golf equipment. It was a reminder of how crowded, emotional and unforgiving the sector of political movies is in Tamil Nadu, particularly when the uncared for character is Rajinikanth.
At a TVK protest in Chennai final week, Arjun mentioned that after former CM and AIADMK chief MG Ramachandran, Rajinikanth is without doubt one of the hottest actors who entered politics and tried to alter the system. Nonetheless, he alleged that the “DMK household” threatened Rajinikanth and prevented him from doing so. Then he drew the distinction he had at all times needed. He mentioned Vijay had the “psychological energy” to resist such strain.
Arjun later claimed that he was not criticizing Rajinikanth. However in Tamil Nadu, tone is commonly extra necessary than disclaimers.
Rajinikanth’s followers had been fast to reply and made it clear that Rajinikanth will not be the sort of one who fears threats. Whereas the coronavirus pandemic and well being have been broadly cited as causes for the famous person to step away from politics, the robust response from followers, directed not simply at Arjun but additionally at TVK, captures one thing deeper.
This was not about Rajinikanth’s dignity, however the previous argument about his retreat: that what seems to be like a retreat to some is a legal responsibility to his admirers. Amongst his internal circle on the time, the query was framed with a contact of black humor. Did he need to be remembered as a famous person or threat being remembered as only a failed politician?
famous person speaks
Rajinikanth himself remained silent for a number of days after Arjun’s remarks, however in Tamil Nadu this usually means everybody else will get their flip first. By the point he spoke on Tuesday, the controversy had widened. Producers, fan golf equipment, former organizers, DMK, BJP, AIADMK leaders and even critics who’re normally sympathetic to Vijay had already joined the fray.
In a brief however sharp assertion, Rajinikanth referred to as Arjun’s statements “unfaithful” and “defamatory”. He expressed his gratitude to the politicians and movie luminaries who had supported him, and concluded with the subdued and decisive line, “Time doesn’t inform, however waits and offers solutions.”
It was an unusually broad coalition. Rajinikanth expressed his gratitude to AIADMK chief Edappadi Okay. Palaniswami, Union minister L. Murugan, Tamil Nadu minister S. Regpathy, BJP state president Nainar Nagendran, VCK chief Thor Thirumavalavan, PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss and BJP’s Okay. Annamalai. This checklist, greater than the assertion itself, confirmed how comprehensively Arjun’s remarks backfired.
Mr Nagendran referred to as the feedback “extremely inappropriate and reprehensible” and mentioned it appeared Mr Arjun was searching for publicity by focusing on a broadly revered determine. He urged TVK to distance itself from the assertion and requested it to challenge an unconditional apology to Arjun. Palaniswami mentioned the assertion mirrored political obscenity and defamed a revered determine throughout occasion strains.
TVK has sought to mission itself as a critical, self-contained various, not only a fan motion with slogans, however a celebration with self-discipline, attain and emotional intelligence. Arjuna’s assertion appeared to undermine that effort.
Undercurrent of rivalry
Maybe extra damagingly, the connection between Rajini and Vijay in public reminiscence is neither easy nor straight adversarial. Rajinikanth’s direct rival within the movie business was Kamal Haasan, whereas Vijay’s rival was Ajith Kumar. Nonetheless, there was an undercurrent of rivalry between Rajini and Vijay amongst followers for years. One camp sees Rajini as the unique famous person with an unparalleled aura, whereas the opposite sees Vijay as a fearless successor who achieved what older stars couldn’t.
This battle is usually manageable inside fan tradition, however turns into extra flamable with regards to politics. To say that Rajinikanth lacked braveness, even not directly, is to not make a tactical level. It’s an insult to the reminiscence buildings constructed over a long time.
And Rajinikanth will not be a simple goal to start with. He has at all times existed as a complicated however largely innocent determine in Tamil public life. He is spiritually and politically incorrect, but it surely’s arduous to forged him as a cynic. When he touched the ft of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2023, it sparked outrage and led to ridicule, particularly amongst those that took it as a capitulation to energy by the Bharatiya Janata Occasion. However those that knew him defended it as a part of an extended and deeply private non secular custom. In line with that interpretation, Rajinikanth was neither a disciplined ideological Hindu nor a contemporary Dravidian skeptic. He was simply Rajinikanth. Though he was devoted, he couldn’t absolutely take part in political events or organizations.
That complexity was smoothed out by Arjuna’s phrases. And which may be a recurring drawback for him. For Vijay, that’s no small matter at this stage. His occasion remains to be making an attempt to outline itself to floating voters, Rajinikanth’s older supporters and younger individuals who see politics by means of reels, clips and moods moderately than ideology.
Arjuna’s speech got here on the worst attainable time. TVK was making an attempt to place itself as a mature and complete various. As a substitute, they defended senior officers who insulted cultural legends whereas pretending to reward their very own leaders.
The harsher reality is that the film fan base in Tamil Nadu will not be an off-the-cuff leisure neighborhood. They’re organized, emotional, and politically delicate. They thrive on reminiscences. They’ll tolerate contradictions, however not humiliation. For Vijay, this episode will not be about Rajinikanth, however about management.
“A political occasion that can’t management its personal language could have a tough time controlling its personal progress,” mentioned an in depth aide to Rajinikanth, including that there was no want for the actor to reply to Arjun as a result of “folks would have responded to it in their very own methods.”
“A motion that wishes to inherit the emotional capital of cinema should first be taught its etiquette. In Tamil Nadu, the etiquette is strict. If you wish to rise, you’ll be able to’t simply casually observe Rajinikanth,” he mentioned.
