19 May,2009 09:12 AM IST | | Prabhudev M
They do not have anything to offer in terms of ideology, instead they reduce politics to a spectacle, say political watchers
It's been a flop show, at the polls, for South Indian film stars. Most of those who contested have failed miserably, causing party chiefs who argued their case to now look foolish.
Smart voters
V N Subba Rao, journalist and political analyst, says, "Indian voters have become mature in choosing their candidates. They are not carried away by glamour. They are voting for the development, which is a welcome trend."
"Chiranjeevi's defeat (in Palacole, his home town) serves as a big lesson to other film stars. His charisma and success in filmdom could not be translated into political success," he explains.
The Praja Rajyam Party received a severe drubbing in the elections, but its founder and president Chiranjeevi is among its 18 legislators elected to the assembly. The superstar is representing Tirupati, the temple town where he launched his party in August last year.u00a0 He had contested from two constituencies, but lost from Palacole, his hometown in West Godavari district.
Fans yes, votes no
Kavitha Lankesh, filmmaker and journalist, says, "Film stars may pull in large crowds during election meetings and rallies, but they cannot guarantee votes. They do not have much to offer in terms of ideology, instead they reduce politics to a spectacle."
Film stars used to be demigods to millions of people in the world's largest democracy, which also boasts the world's biggest film industry. Their popularity was particularly felt in South India, where huge cutouts of their images are displayed at busy traffic junctions, and fans perform special poojas at temples dedicated to them.
Looks like all this is quietly changing.
Waning charisma
"Gone are the days of MGR and NTR. Telugu thespian, N T Rama Rao, who founded the Telugu Desam Party, could make it big because the entire film industry was solidly behind him. His call for Telugu Atmagauravam (self-respect) became a wave that swept away the Congress. During the times of M G Ramachandran, hero worship was at its peak. MGR, who had the demigod image, could easily cash in on the trend and emerge as a successful leader," explains TV serial director and playwright T N Seetharam, who contested and lost the 1999 Assembly elections from Gauribidanur, his hometown.
In Karnataka, no film star has struck gold in politics. To many political watchers, Ambareesh's political career has mirrored the fate of movie-idols-turned-politicians in the state.u00a0 Ambarish, who was minister of state for information and broadcasting, has the unenviable distinction of being among three Karnataka MPs who did not utter a word through out his term.
"Ambareesh could hold sway over the people of Mandya and Mysore because of his caste. With Shashikumar also, his caste and not his star image played a major role when he won the parliamentary polls in 1999. I think this speaks volumes about what influences voters," says Subba Rao
Film stars may pull in large crowds during election meetings and rallies, but they cannot guarantee votes. They do not have much to offer in terms of ideology, instead they reduce politics to a spectacle.
Kavitha Lankesh, filmmaker and journalistu00a0
Ambareesh could hold sway over the people of Mandya and Mysore because of his caste. With Shashikumar also, his caste and not his star image played a major role when he won the parliamentary polls in 1999
V N Subba,u00a0 Rao, journalist and political analyst
