Some months back we had wondered in these columns if governance in TN is a matinee show. The provocation then was the CM of the State, despite his pressing official businesses, finding time and mind to sit through a six-hour live filmy event, gleefully watching scantily clad celluloid nymphets dancing to peppy numbers. TN and its CM have evolved from mere matinees since then; it is now four shows a day plus special screenings and previews for self, kith, kin and the kazhagam’s kanmanis. And once Kalaingar TV hits the air, the official vocation of the State’s rulers shall be cinema, round the clock. The writing, rather, poster on the wall is already clear.
Celluloid, a transparent plastic used for cinema film, might have given way to newer materials and formats over time, but the primal addiction to the screen has remained unchanged universally. Rather, commerce and technology have only made movies a pervasive factor in daily life as never before. In a way, cinema is a common thread that strings up the otherwise disparate global village. Also, with globalisation creating diasporas in many nations, cinema as part of the cultural baggage crosses frontiers easily and quite naturally. Reason why, now, not just Titanics in the Queen’s tongue, but movies in other languages too see world-wide premieres and openings.
The history of cinema almost runs parallel to the nation’s history in the Indian psyche. The chronology of films and actors has a greater recall than even national events and leaders. With its vast linguistic diversity and a huge star-struck population, India ranks as the most fertile land in the world for filmdom to prosper. And having conquered the country, Indian movies are now truly going global. The memorable reel caricature of Nagesh selling the ‘world rights’ of his unnamed, still-born film from ‘Oho Productions’ in ‘Kaadhalikka Neramillai’ is now a reality. And the audience is not just the diaspora referred to above. The Economist reports that Bollywood movies are presently a rage amidst the Brits, who are gorging with glee all the song and dance sequences that mark out the familiar Indian film fare. And several South Indian stars are shining brightly in South and East Asia.
But despite cinema being a global phenomenon and a national obsession, it is still largely deemed entertainment, away and apart from the daily grind. But not so in TN, where rationalism is supposed to hold sway. In this State, cinema is more than just a past-time for many, or a profession for some; it is a passion that is more precious than even one’s bread-winning vocation or beholden family and more paramount than probably even the Almighty! It pervades every sphere of public activity and permeates every second of one’s private life. From politics to art to culture to religion to fashion to simple acts of smoking and walking, cinema determines who’s who, what’s what and how’s how. In short, life in TN is a never ending show. The bard who said that all the world is a stage has clearly missed the bigger picture in TN alias Tinselnadu.
The original sin for the state of affairs lies with the people. The on-going frenzy amidst the public over Rajnikant’s late but latest offering is a clear pointer to the priorities of the people. But this has always been the case here. From MKT to MGR to even much lesser heroes, film releases are deemed by their die-hard fans as some kind of a festival. The identification with their hero is so consummate that a hit movie for that hero is treated as a personal success for the fan. A silver jubilee is akin to Mokshaa. A modest run, then becomes, a personal tragedy! An utter flop, a national calamity. TN has the highest number of fan clubs and fans cut across ages; once a fan, always a far and fans age with their favourite heroes, but with neither really growing up! Here fans of heroes routinely clash and heroes themselves deliver punch dialogues to real or imagined off-screen enemies and critics. And with the well established shortcut from Kollywood to Fort, such delusions soon become public policy.
The media is no less guilty. Press, TV and now FM channels, do not just feed and feast on such fads of the people, but actually fuel them. There seems to be a quiet consensus among them that minus movies they are as good as corpses. Probably the people deserve their press. But still, that does not justify the media hype over Sivaji, for instance. While a media overkill was certainly in the offing, what’s happening is clearly off-bounds; the FM channels particularly seem to have gone nuts. Some of the ‘insightful’ nuggets that they offer on air must be news to even Shankar, Sujatha, Saravanan or the ‘Superstar’! And most embarrassing too!
One cant blame the film folk beyond a point. For them it is a profession, a means of livelihood. They slog and toil and are still not sure of success. One movie can make or mar their life. And to remain successful is a bigger ordeal. The stars have to necessarily make hay while the sun shines. And for every success story, there are a thousand tales of woe of failed wannabes. And successful stars are not just adored objects but dicey targets too. The very media that propelled them would be only too eager to pull them down, if the tide turns. Now, should the people peg their fate, future and fortune on such ephemeral screen shadows? Or have we collectively lost the faculty to tell reel from real ?
But forget the film-crazed public. Or the film-fed media. And even the self-obsessed stars. What of the rulers? Perhaps TN should be the only place on earth where the CM and cm, read, Chief Minister and common man, find perfect egalitarian bliss as members of one big fan club! The CM, like his subjects, has all the time for all the movies that are due for release. And now as the de facto head honcho of Kalaingar TV, that is time well spent so that he can personally, and quite rationally, determine the price for TV rights. Governance can wait. In any case, the people are not asking for it! They seem happy enough to see a new movie early on the tube. Reason why, short of selling tickets at counters or sticking posters, most TN politicos have some financial interest in filmdom. To serve public ‘interest’, for sure!
By the way, has Kalaingar TV acquired the rights for the ‘super-duper’ hit movie, Periyar? And is the price higher by at least a rupee than that paid for Sivaji or Dasavataram? Must be. After all, the kalaingar ‘values’ Periyar a lot! And he would not want to hurt Periyar’s pride and self-respect by buying cheap.
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