Rajini, Kamal star wars to continue on political stage

Any Deepavali or Pongal 25 years ago used to be celebrated along with the release of films by the two popular actors, which used to clash on the same day. After two decades, the state is likely to witness the same rivalry in another stage since both have announced their political entry. 

Four days after Rajinikanth declared that he would launch his own political party, Kamal Haasan through an article in a Tamil weekly, stated that he would complete his film works as soon as possible and take the political plunge.

Both the actors are poles apart in their political perspective, approach and ideology. While Rajini had quoted the Bhagvad Gita, added the spiritual tag to his politics and visited the Ramakrishna Mutt, Kamal had asserted saffron would not be his colour. In politics, even before their entry, a clear division had emerged even within the political class as those supporting or opposing their political plunge.

The leaders of the AIADMK and BJP had come down on Kamal’s political inclinations, while welcoming Rajini. But, the Communist parties and VCK had welcomed Kamal, while the other outfits are reacting with caution. CPM MP TK Rangarajan, a veteran Parliamentarian said, “Kamal will help to take forward the campaign against communal politics. But, Rajini cannot make an impact in politics, since he will be supporting the BJP.”

Going into the strengths and weakness of the two actors, Thamizharuvi Manian, who backs Rajini asserted that he has the common touch and he can easily connect with the masses, besides understanding their pulse. But, leaders like Anbumani of the PMK, his arch rival and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, besides Naam Tamizhar Katchi leader P Seeman see Kamal as an actor with social awareness and responsibility, while denouncing Rajini.

The super star had been more successful in the box office than Kamal and he had also managed to keep up his market till date. However, even if he had a head start over his rival, politics can be a long and testing game, the result of which can be known only when it plays out on the ground.