In a land where movies are a religion and film stars are cult figures, one would automatically assume that it will be a win-win situation when tinsel town personalities make their entry into the political space.
The example set by legendary N.T. Rama Rao, who rode to power in just 10 months after forming the Telugu Desam in 1982 on the “Telugu pride” plank makes for an interesting lesson. But subsequently, those who tried to mimic the ‘Nandamuri’ success story have unfortunately not managed as much success. Star
The closest that anybody could come was Konidela Chiranjeevi who started his Praja Rajyam Party in 2008 and bagged an almost 18 per cent share of votes polled, in the 2009 elections. However, hoping as he did, to ride straight into the Chief Minister’s ‘gaddi’ and failing to do so, political compulsions saw the megastar winding up his party by merging with the Congress about three years later.
And now rumours are agog the past few weeks that Mr. Chiranjeevi’s younger brother Pawan Kalyan is making his political ‘arangetram’. As was the case with the elder brother, the younger sibling too is playing his cards very close to his chest. His office issued a statement last week that Mr. Kalyan would make his plans public around the second week of March.
VeteransThere are at least a dozen actors and actresses who have expressed their wish to enter the political fray in the State, using their popularity as movie stars. They include veteran M. Muralimohan and former Union Minister U.V. Krishnam Raju, both of whom are eyeing a Parliamentary berth, comedians Ali and former Minister Babu Mohan, Vijayasanthi, Roja and Kavita of yesteryears, Jeevitha and her husband Dr. Rajasekhar. Late Srihari too had made his political plans public just a few months before his demise.
Mr. Babu Mohan has been trying again to contest from the Andhole Assembly seat, while the enormously-popular Ali has expressed interest in contesting for the Assembly from Rajahmundry, interestingly, after turning down an offer from the TDP in 2009. Now however, he is seeking advice from well-wishers and friends, weighed down as he is, by whether he should go ahead on the TDP ticket or go with his friend Mr. Kalyan.
In August last, when the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate came to Hyderabad, a host of film personalities called on him. They included former MP Manchu Mohan Babu, his daughter Lakshmi and son Vishnu, Ram Gopal Varma, producer D. Rama Naidu and his grandson Rana, directors K. Raghavendra Rao and V.V. Vinayak, actor Jagapathi Babu, actress Gauthami and music director M.M. Keeravani too.
Producer D. Suresh Babu feels there is nothing wrong in film stars aspiring to enter the political space. “For long we have seen this phenomenon and its fine. Some are driven by ambition and some by anger at the state of affairs, but they all have the drive to do something.
Some did achieve success and those who didn’t have even been welcomed back into the film industry, including Babu Mohan, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Kaikala Satyanarayana, to name a few,” he pointed out.
But the bigger their stardom, the higher the expectations from people and that’s where the high stakes control the movement of film stars, into the political space, Mr. Suresh Babu says.
