Mumbai: Film stars wading into politics is a long drawn phenomenon in a country like ours where cinema is a religion and actors are worshipped like deities. But then, not all triumphed in translating their screen popularity into electoral success. Few have set precedents right and proved the notion wrong that film stars are scripted to become good politicians.
During elections political parties deploy glamour quotient to help candidates reach out to the voters. Stars descending on the streets greeting people with a smile is not all that the actors who turn full-time politicians do. The actor-politicians are apparently aware of the fact that just like movies in politics too they need to strike a chord with people who can not be fooled with empty promises.
History suggests that cine personalities from down South have consistently done well compared to their counterparts from other states when they forayed into politics.
Cinema heavyweights like MGR, MK Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa and NT Rama Rao are among those few who during their tenure shaped politics of their respective states.
MGR: India’s very first actor-politician
Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran was the first film-star-turned-politician in any Indian state and the founder of the AIADMK. Three-time chief minister, and Bharat Ratna recipient, MGR dominated Tamil Nadu’s stratosphere spanning four decades.
MK Karunanidhi
Karunanidhi, who was affectionately called 'Kalaignar' by his supporters, left a mark on the political landscape of Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi was chief minister of Tamil Nadu five times and successfully contested 12 state elections.
NT Rama Rao
There is a popular view that NTR's mythological roles played a significant part in shaping up his political career. The actor who played Krishna in 17 films would dress up in costumes of mythological characters even during his stint as CM. In 1982, NTR founded his own political party TDP (the Telugu Desam Party), driven by the vision of Andhra's distinct identity. In his time as the head of the party and went on to serve three terms as CM of Andhra Pradesh, during a period of seven years between 1983 to 1994.
Jayalalithaa
A thinking actor and an extremely popular and powerful politician who was an outsider in Tamil Nadu's male-dominated politics. The MGR protégé and political heir said she wished to commit ‘sati’ when MGR who was everything to her passed away. However, she went on to become a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, effortlessly inheriting the mantle of her mentor and superstar MGR.
MGR and Jayalalithaa's successful political stint inspired bewy of actors to try their luck in politics. T. Rajender, K. Bhagyaraj, Karthik, Sharath Kumar and Vijayakanth entered politics but only Vjayakanth succeed in making a mark.
Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Prakash Raj and Pawan Kalyan too have set out on a political journey to usher change in the political scenario during the times when actor-politicians are a fading lot in the state.
