A New Role For Rajini

Tamil Nadu’s popular thalaiva (‘boss’), Rajinikanth’s political debut poses a threat to the future of the dravidian parties

- Amarnath K. Menon

Exactly a year after the passing of the late chief minister and Tamil icon J. Jayalalithaa, his Poes Garden neighbour in Chennai, ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth, has announced that he’s entering politics. On New Year’s eve, at the last of the week ­long meetings with film fans, ‘Thalaiva’ (The Boss), as his fans refer to him, declared that he wants to usher in real change, give Tamil Nadu a new deal. “I will enter politics. The current situation demands it. If I don’t make this decision now, I will let the people down and that guilt will haunt me... I want guardians, not cadre. I’ll supervise these guardians,” he said in his trademark staccato style.

If one goes by the timing alone, Rajini has managed his entry into the political orbit with some dexterity. “My coming to politics is definite. This is due to force of circumstance,” he announced, settling the question that has been hanging in the air since 1996: “Will he, won’t he... is all this just talking in the air?” At the time, he had pledged support to the DMK ­led opposition, triggering the end of a particularly controversial five­ year reign by the AIADMK. His “Even God can’t save Tamil Nadu” statement, cautioning people against re-­electing Jayalalithaa, had prompted many to wonder whether he was readying a political entry for himself. But after raising expectations, Rajini backed off, making peace with Jayalalithaa, keeping other political leaders in good humour and going back to his aloof self.