The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : No euphoria in Chiru’s village

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Thursday, Apr 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

No euphoria in Chiru’s village

M. Rajeev

Chiranjeevi

MOGALTUR (West Godavari Dt): The much-talked about entry of matinee idol Chiranjeevi into politics has not generated so much of euphoria at least in one place – his native village.

Colourful posters or banners are conspicuous by their absence while there is no sight of people discussing about one of their fellow villagers, who attained celebrity status, taking a political plunge. A lay visitor to this village, located 12 km from Narsapur town, is greeted by two posters of the megastar in front of his erstwhile parental residence.

House sold

The house has been sold to T. Joga Rao who has forayed into the aquaculture business, way back in 1992. Mr. Chiranjeevi, who moved to Chennai to enter the film field in the late 1970s, rarely visited the village but his mother Anjana Devi is a frequent visitor, he said, adding that he preserved the house in its original form ever since he took it over.What surprises visitors the most is the absence of any enthusiasm among the residents about one of them aiming big.

Residents are aggrieved that despite his celebrity status and the influence he wields, Mr. Chiranjeevi has not made any contribution whatsoever for the development of the village. “How can we own him as our man when he has done nothing for the village,” said V. Narayana, who owns a shop in the village centre. The villagers are also unhappy that Mr. Chiranjeevi did not bother to inform old time friends of his father, Venkat Rao, about his death a few months ago. “We mobilised some money from among ourselves and organised ‘annadanam’ for poor,” Mr. Joga Rao said.

They are sceptical about a ‘wave like’ situation in favour of Mr. Chiranjeevi in Mogaltur claiming that “the days when film actors used to cast profound influence on the people are gone with N.T. Rama Rao.”

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