In Chennai, actor Aadhi and nine of his friends drawn from various fields have come together to form a group, ‘Let’s Bridge’. Through it, they hope to create awareness about issues that concern the common man. The first issue they have taken up is voter awareness.
“Recently, while speaking to an Election Commission official, he remarked that conducting a glitch-free election was not as huge an issue as getting people to come to the booths. Did you know that during the last elections, many first-time voters never turned up to vote?” he asks.
Now, he and his band of friends have taken on 10 people each and are fanning out across colleges to address the need for first-time voters to come out and exercise their right to franchise. They speak about the seriousness of voting and the power of a vote. “We think so much while buying a mobile phone; we compare prices and features, we brainstorm with friends. Do we think as much before casting a vote?” he says.
This movement does not call for finances, says Aadhi; it calls for manpower and time. “We have to strike a balance between our professional and personal lives while doing something for society,” he says.
In his voter awareness video, Kamal Haasan says: “Remember. Selling your vote is like selling your self respect. Vote without fear. Vote for democracy. Vote according to your conscience…”
Not just film stars, voter awareness drives are the flavour of the season across general entertainment channels too.
During soaps or in between ad breaks, television actors speak of the need to vote.
The Tata Group uses television’s favourite bahus to drive home its ‘Power of 49’ campaign. This campaign aims to awaken women, who comprise 49 per cent of the country’s voter base, to cast an informed, independent vote. According to a Tata Group statement: “Several research reports have shown that television soaps affect the lives of everyday households and in turn impact societies…” Some of the leading ladies who are part of its campaign include Dipika Singh ( Diya Aur Baati Hum ), Hina Khan ( Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai ), Shilpa Shirodkar ( Ek Mutthi Aasmaan ), Roopal Tyagi ( Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke ) and Toral Rasputra ( Balika Vadhu ).
Shekhar Kapur says that “Democracy assumes that people want to vote,” and that people vote with an independent mind and enough knowledge. Therefore, it is important that those with public access platforms present voters with objective analysis, and persuade them to vote. The filmmaker feels a vote is not just for oneself and one’s children, but for “the millions of fellow citizens that have not yet tasted fruits of freedom”.
This election, he tweeted: “India has the potential 2 move from Feudal Democracy 2 a true Democracy. Based on merit and accountability. Make ur Vote count.”
Author Shobhaa De thinks on the same lines. This kind of awareness drives happens across the world, especially in Hollywood, she says. “Actors are powerful influencers, and if they choose to create awareness for social issues that matter to them, I’d call them important agents of change,” she adds.
But, other than the sprinkling of star dust during election time, do these campaigns serve a purpose? Yes, says freelance writer Sanjeev Neelakantan. “Indians take kindly to a bit of nudging and a gentle rap on the knuckles from their demi-gods in tinsel town. That’s why they pay attention when actors talk of the importance of sanitation and hygiene. This time, the sermons are about political sanitation and the need to guard against being non-participative in one's own body politic. They will have an audience.”
Stamp your right
As part of its voter awareness drive, Let’s Bridge organises stamp camps across the city. During these camps they will get children to stamp the message: ‘Our future is in your hands. Vote responsibly’ on people’s hands. The group is awaiting the State Election Commission’s nod to distribute pamphlets to voters.
