The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Neutral' group persuaded to participate in fete

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Neutral' group persuaded to participate in fete

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, NOV. 8. If a section of the film industry does not want to go overboard thanking and felicitating the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, for the concessions granted to the industry, the reasons are not far to seek.

The industry does not want to antagonise the Opposition parties, more so the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its leader, M. Karunanidhi. Given that Tamil Nadu has been alternating between the rule of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the DMK, at least one group wants to remain "neutral" and not invite the wrath of either party.

Since 1967, when the DMK first came to power, successive Chief Ministers have had links with the industry, either as scriptwriters (the late C.N. Annadurai and his successor, M. Karunanidhi) or as matinee idols (M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa).

All of them have done their bit for the industry, which helped them gain popularity and put them on the road to political power. As such, sections of the industry do not want to get identified with one leader or the other, with one party or the other. They would like to retain their links with all of them and reap the benefits irrespective of who is in power. And the next election to the legislature is due in 2006.

When the industry decided to hold this fete today and express its gratitude to Ms. Jayalalithaa, there were reservations. As prominent DMK members or supporters also had a stake in the industry associations, it was obvious that they would not participate in the function. But producers-directors were convinced that the industry owed it to the Chief Minister for saving it from the clutches of video piracy and helped in reviving the business in theatres, restructuring entertainment tax. "This is thanksgiving to the Government and its Chief Minister, not to the AIADMK or Ms. Jayalalithaa as an individual," explains an industry spokesman.

Karunanidhi's claim

Mr. Karunanidhi explained that his regime offered bigger concessions to the film world and the recent ones announced by the AIADMK Government were only a rollback of the hefty increases in rates it effected after coming to power in 2001.

On Saturday, there was some tension in the industry as a section wanted to stay away or even express itself openly. But veterans in the field stepped in to ease the tension, keep the industry together and persuade some of the "neutral elements and stalwarts" to attend the "celebrations."

They were convinced that it was celebration time for the industry as a whole and they would be thanking any Government that was in power. There was no question of taking sides. So, it was really the DMK group which stayed away.

The tinsel world's connections with politics may not stop here. Megastar Rajnikant has now and then hinted at entering politics, but appears hesitant.

The film artistes' association president, Vijaykant, has announced plans to jump into politics soon. And there are both members of Parliament and the Assembly owing allegiance to the DMK and the AIADMK, who are still active in the film world.

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