Does it make sense for Rajinikanth to make a mega debut in politics?
Is God on a summer vacation? Or has he, IPL-inspired, taken a strategic time out, ignoring that the ball is in his interstellar court?
On Monday, one of his ardent bhakts, Sivaji Rao Gaekwad aka Rajinikanth, told the world that the buck stops with God. That it is God who has to take a call on Rajinikanth's third innings. His first job as a bus conductor had seen Rajini rule the Bangalore Transport Service's bus on route 10A. His second innings saw him rule Kollywood as its superstar. Now Rajini has outsourced the decision on whether he deserves to be cast in a politician's role, to God.
As Tamil Nadu tries to second guess what the higher power will decide, Rajinikanth is giving a screen test to become a politician. This entire week, the actor is meeting his fans, posing for photographs with each one individually, testing his ability to mingle with the crowds.
"Idhu eppadi irukku? (How is it?)"
For the past 21 years, Rajinikanth has kept Tamil Nadu in the will-he-won't-he mode. In 1996, he spoke out against Jayalalithaa and that public taking down of the AIADMK supremo played a significant part in Amma losing power. His fans, by his own admission, helped the DMK-TMC come to power. Twenty years later, Rajini regretted that decision at the condolence meeting for Jayalalithaa in December. Now he calls it a "political accident".
Rajini did not take the plunge in 1996 when the time would have been most apt. In a state that considers it only natural that it should be ruled by a personality and not by pygmy politicians, the Tamilian voter would have embraced him. Rajini did not, instead letting the screenplay meander. Everytime he would be asked about a possible plunge into politics, he would be ambiguous, introducing divinity into the political mix, as he once again did on Monday.
"Naan eppo varuven, eppadi varuvennu yarukkum theriyathu. Eppo varunumo appo correctaa varuven (When, where and how I make an entry, no one will know. But when I do make one, it will be at the right time)."
This punch dialogue from Muthu, another one of his superhits, is often quoted as a politically-loaded one.
So is 2017 the right time? Well, his address on Monday was different in one way. Rajini spoke of his set of conditions should God greenlight his political entry. That corrupt people and those who look at politics as a vehicle to make money are a no-no for him. "Na khaaoonga na khaane doonga" just got dubbed into Tamil.
Having missed the bus - how ironical for a conductor - in 1996, Rajini now seems to be attempting a 2.0.
Despite Baba proving to be a black sheep in his career, he is treading the divine path yet again. Wonder if the followers of Periyar would approve.
But will Tamil Nadu go into Magizhchi (happiness) mode if Rajini decides to become a politician? The jury is out on that one as the state has moved away from the MGR and Jayalalithaa era where people blindly believed the screen persona as the real person.
Moreover, unlike MGR who assiduously cultivated an image of a do-gooder on screen, Rajini revels in the masala flicks, that are essentially designed to entertain.
Politics is not cinema that Rajini can hope to pepper with some of his trademark mannerisms and lift even a mediocre script. Politics is hard work where an understanding of people's issues is a must. Barring guest appearances, Rajini has never shown an inclination towards articulating his position on public issues.
Also unlike his friend Kamal Haasan, who does not shy away from calling a spade a spade, Rajini is always in play safe mode. That is not the DNA of a political leader. And given his Kannadiga roots, Rajini will be asked to go through the agnipariksha of proving his Tamilian sub-nationalism everytime Karnataka turns off the Cauvery tap.
In the last few months, post Jayalalithaa's death, one saw many people declaring they are the chosen one. There was VK Sasikala who emerged out of Veda Nilayam to tell Tamil Nadu, the state was hers to rule, till the Supreme court judgement felled her. Then there is O Panneerselvam who has been harping on flashback to say he was Amma's favorite. There is also Deepa Jayakumar who wants to convey she could play a younger Jayalalithaa.
In this brand of filmy politics, Rajini is offering Tamil Nadu a different storyline, playing the reluctant politician whose only High command and Margdarshak mandal is God. He says he is wary of the crocodiles in the political pond and thinks it is common sense to keep one's leg out of the waters.
There is a reason why Rajini is vacillating. He has seen that no good came to his friend Amitabh Bachchan from dabbling in politics. He knows that for every MGR, Jayalalithaa and NTR, there is a Chiranjeevi, Govinda and Vijayakanth. The superstar knows he can continue doing his films and walk away into the sunset in the Himalayas. It is the BJP that needs him as its mascot and is pursuing him.
How will this BJP-Rajini fit work? BJP leaders believe given his religious demeanour, Rajinikanth is the leader the Tamil Nadu unit of the party always wanted. He would be a fresh face with an enormous following and that the Modi-Rajini combo pack could have Tamilians eating out of their hands. But while the BJP will gain, does it have the bandwidth to propel Rajini to the CM's chair? No, it does not unless it fights the elections in an alliance with the AIADMK with Rajini as the face. But then again, will he want to be in the company of tainted netas?
While the saffron party chases him, Tamil Nadu would do well not to remain Bhagwaan bharose, like Rajini is. Tamil Nadu politics also does not need to look at Kollywood as its exclusive maternity ward to find its Chennai Super King.
The superstar, without a doubt, has enormous goodwill which could get translated into votes but Tamil Nadu would be better off if God asks Rajinikanth, the person to enter politics and not the off-screen Baasha, Sivaji, Arunachalam or Kabali.