Why MGR will continue to rule politics and hearts in Tamil Nadu
Every time a film star is set to make a debut in Tamil Nadu politics, comparisons with superstar MGR - MG Ramachandran - are inevitable.
As both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth are gearing up to launch their respective political parties, numerous comparisons are being drawn with MGR and his legacy - will they be able to capture the imagination of the poor and the marginalised like MGR did?
And these comparisons are not without merit. MGR was truly a people's hero. He was not someone who got up one fine morning and decided to become the chief minister of the state. MGR was in politics much before his successful journey in the film industry started. We cannot look into one aspect without taking into account the other.
MGR, a nationalist, started out in the Congress. This was when his career in films was yet to take off and he was mostly doing two bit roles. Then the Anna storm (CN Annadurai, the first CM of Tamil Nadu) took over the state. Annadurai, being a great orator, attracted masses like nobody did at that time. While many stalwarts were already emerging, two men stood out - Kalaignar M Karunanidhi's and MGR. Both of them grew with each other even though Shivaji Ganesan was the original DMK pet. He, however, was ousted on account of visiting Tirupati. Belonging to an atheist movement and visiting a temple was blasphemy.
Soon, MGR’s stock rose. His fans became party members and party members became his fans. Once Anna was visiting a village and one of the villagers asked Anna if he was from MGR’s party. Anna was a smart politician. He saw that the party needed MGR, and told them MGR is doing them a great service by taking the party to every nook and corner of the state.
However, unlike his rival for Anna’s legacy, Karunanidhi, MGR had a deep connect with the people. But it was not just on account of his films, he was very charitable as well. For instance, he divided a 6.47-acre property into two halves and donated it, one to a school for deaf and mute and the other to a women’s college. His shares in a studio too went to the MGR charitable Trust. While he was alive, he gave as much out of his purse as he did as the chief minister. His supporters say no one left MGR’s house with an empty stomach and empty pocket.
Upon Anna’s death and MGR’s ouster from the DMK, veteran Congress leader Kumaraswami Kamaraj had the opportunity to rope in MGR, but he underestimated the capabilities of the "actor". For Kamaraj had already accepted that he would be getting the votes that are anti-DMK. But MGR floated his own party - the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - and crushed the Congress and the DMK, winning a whopping 35 per cent vote share for a first timer. People had that much faith in MGR.
But how did he earn the people's faith? Well, his close aides say his every action depended on how his people would perceive it. For instance, the legendary music director, MS Viswanathan, once got a new music player from one of his foreign trips and played the latest tune he had recorded for MGR. MGR after listening to it asked his assistant to bring his personal “music set” and play the same tape on it. His assistant took out an old, cheap set which played the tune without the nuances. Viswanathan was shocked to see that and asked MGR why was he still using such an outdated music player. To this, MGR said that most of his fans could only afford that and if the song does not sound good in that player, it doesn’t matter how good it is.
There is another famous incident which showed how much he valued people. After he came to power, he once got a marriage invitation from a "poor voter". On the same day, another marriage (of a tycoon) was also scheduled to be solemnised. Instead, MGR, along with 11 of his ministers chose to attend the poor voter’s wedding.
When asked, MGR is said to have replied that "the other marriage would see grand celebrations even without him. His presence was more needed and appreciated in the ordinary voter's marriage". This is why people loved MGR.
And they still love him as evident from the current political discourse. In April last year when the RK Nagar by-election was initially scheduled (but was eventually cancelled), AIADMK's Sasikala faction was asked to use a new party name and a symbol by the Election Commission. When given a choice between an auto rickshaw and a hat, they insisted on the latter. TTV Dhinakaran, who is also Sasikala's nephew, explained the significance of their choice of poll symbol. The hat, according to him, was the symbol of party founder MGR, who had donned the hat in many of his movies. And voters would easily identify with it.
But MGR was unique - both as an actor and politician. Others who try to follow him forget that his legacy is not easy to be appropriated.
On his 101st birth anniversary - January 17 - the void left by MGR only grows bigger as the people of Tamil Nadu still await to see another leader like him.