The Tamil film industry is one of the top regional film industries in the country. It has some of the most passionate and talented film making people in India. However, what has become extremely unique is the intricacy of this industry with politics. The industry personalities today seem to be in news considerably for non-film reasons. There is hardly any protest in the state in which they take a neutral stand. In a democratic country anyone can take to politics, but the question now is the incompatibility of their films to societal welfare and their parallel desire to do good to society, as a politician.
Taking to politics, once you get established in films today, seem to be an obvious idea of most leading Tamil heroes. One leading actor who had recently decided to join politics had already expressed his desire to be a chief minister. Another top leading actor had been hinting at joining politics for a long time. There are close to a dozen film heroes already in the political arena, with many more aspirants. Why is the line between films and politics getting very blurred for these Tamil film macho stars. Could the MGR factor play a role here, that make them believe that cinema valor is equivalent to political leadership.
The cinema culture of TN, whether does good or bad for the society is a matter a debate, though many conclude it as contributing negatively to the society. Movies are part of the mass media and can serve as a powerful medium for improving society, but how far have these mass heroes used it for this purpose. It is unfortunate that most Tamil films of top heroes serve as personal advertisements and advance their brand name. There is a sad accusation, a sarcastic one perhaps from most sections of the public that these macho stars rose to stardom on the backs of unsuspecting youth and teens who go out to extreme extents to show their loyalty and imitate them. For years they have screamed and whistled for their hero, for his style, for his dialog, for his dance, for his anger. It is sad they looked up to films and their idols for everything. The society now asks, what have these youth gained from their star idols whom they had even worshiped. Compare it to what have these stars gained from these worshipers.
It is unfortunate, that some of such macho heroes carry with them an infection of their larger than life screen image, even when they are off screen. Their on-screen impact on society, their off screen personal political agenda and the means sought to establish these needs to be considered together establish their value to the society. The heroes with their larger than life image could easily make notable contributions to societal welfare, which however they don’t want to do through their films. It is not surprising that many in the Tamil film industry believe that it is impossible for a movie like Toilet, Taare Zameen Par, or PK to run successfully in Tamil.
Tamil films are hero dominated entertainment. Movie scripts and cast are tailored for the hero rather than the movie. A 2010 dissertation by University of Pennsylvania’s Nakassis says “while the non-hero lives to serve the film and its story, in commercial action cinema the film and its story live to serve the hero (Pandian 1992; Rajanayakam 2002); more precisely, the hero-star.” The macho men on screen, make a brand name for themselves, then look for opportunities to open up a new innings of social work through politics. As these heroes grow, they are conscious of themselves and their personal brand they are building with it.
A typical growth curve for a mass hero is generally evident. At their entry level, they are mostly ordinary men fighting bad policemen, bold criminals, and local mafia. At their intermediate level they become extraordinary men and their villains are of the likes of international drug and crime syndicates, bad and powerful politicians or businessmen. Later in their career, when they reach the top, they begin to call the shots. At this level, they become supermen and their villains now are governments, laws, and law makers.
It is never late for a good change. Film heroes are welcome to politics like any other citizens. However their path to politics should involve positive leadership, public persuasion, involvement in social issues, constructive criticism, and alternate thinking. Actors should not take the shortcut to tongue-lash governments and governmental efforts. Running a government involves decision making and consensus building among several other factors and is not as easy as producing, directing, and acting one’s own film. The corruption charges they raise are all welcome and the people have a responsibility to support them. However film heroes must realize that their corruption charges must only serve for the exit of the corrupt from politics and not their own entry. The situation has probably come where citizens need to judge whether these personalities contribute or hinder effective administrative functioning in an effort to advance their own personal agenda.
