My instant reaction was one of relief. Kalaingar K’s declaration in Kanchipuram last week that he would no longer resort to attacks on adversaries that can be construed as ‘indecent or personal or below-the-belt’ was surely good news. Indeed, for those of us tired of reading and responding to the rhetorical rantings of a rabid rationalist, some respite was surely needed, even though it might mean loss of livelihood for the likes of me. Really one was tempted to reciprocate. But alas, the initial impression was misplaced; K may give up his right to expression, but he compensates in deeds. And here I am back in action.
The provocations are no doubt dire. Last week, at the Kanchi function got up to celebrate the centenary of Anna’s B-day, K ‘won’ the Anna award. And this week comes the announcement that he is the recipient of the State film award for the best script-writer. So what’s all the fuss? Only that, the Anna award was given by the DMK of which the Kalaignar K is the President and the best screen writer award is conferred by a State Government of which KK is the CM! Now, that is ‘self’-respect, in black and red! The left hand gives and the right receives, or vice-versa, as all canons of propriety, personal and political, take a walk. Now is there any cheer in him falling silent?
For the uninitiated observers or political novices or those outside of the State, these matters may seem petty and puerile. But in TN they are not just the staple diet but the stuff of profound polemics. For instance, after the Anna award, Kalaignar TV, owned by you-know-who, telecast a karutharangam (debate club). The topic of discussion would itself thrill you to the bones: What entitled Kalaignar to ‘win’ the ‘coveted’ Anna Award? His political acumen? His Admin skills? etc, etc. You and I know the answer as also the level of competition in that one-horse-race. Yet, super-charged speakers scorched the screen with their stirring sermons so much that after some time you got the feeling that if K was indeed what they claimed then should it not actually be Anna who should be receiving the Kalaignar award instead of the other way round? But the point is, this was just one instance of the familiar flattery fraternity in full flow trying to fill the insatiable ego of a powerful personality. Aah, I missed mentioning a minor detail: K was the chief guest at that arangam, drinking in every word!
The State film awards are another farce. Cinema’s sway over TN politics is legendary. The awards time are pay back time for politics to deliver its dues to its sustaining source. But while that has been the case even with MGR and J the current film-politics nexus is of a much greater magnitude. The entire K clan is spread out in the film industry. The sons of Stalin and Alagiri, pardon, Alagiri and Stalin, are full time film producers. The nephews, Marans, have a divine first right, including TV rights, over every other film that is ready for release: The ‘Made by Maran’ seal would obliterate even reputed or established production houses along with their midnight oil, overnight. Another grandson is a singer and there must be scores of others, if not already in, at least aspiring to enter. The patriarch K himself is fully into this family business of film-making, that is, when he is not engaged in the other family vocation of Ministry-making.
The cine minister, pardon, chief minister can be regularly spotted in photographs posing with even just-born stars or you can bump into him in his favourite haunts like preview theatres, studios, sets, cassette release functions. So with the whole filmdom itself in the ‘vice’ grip of the ruling family, can mere State awards be exempt from that influence? And lest I miss another detail: the State awards function would doubtless be telecast by Kalaignar TV which would have secured the rights after severe competition … from within the family channels. Of course, K would preside though it is not clear who would present the Best Script Writer award to the, er, Best Script Writer chosen by the script writer himself … damn!
Indeed, I would say our welfare State has been quite magnanimous in dispensing awards to others. And in the process has given a raw deal to the all-deserving, versatile CM. He must no doubt be compensated with a plethora of other awards that, besides tickling his ego further, also befits his contributions to the family, party and State, all of which are part of his estate (Kodanadu and Mannargudi, excluded). Also, we have run out of Doctorates! So here’s the award list, which by no means is exhaustive, for can any one ever fully ‘recognise’ our multi-faceted CM? The highest honours can be the ‘My Daddy Strongest’ award and ‘Ultimate Uncle’ award for his sterling services to his kith and kin. A Marathon on Wheels award would recognise his feat of wheeling around New Delhi non-stop for 48 hours. That flash fast on Marina between breakfast and lunchbreak, would qualify for an award titled ‘The Fastest One’ for the most stunning stunt.
And Sri Lankan Tamils may want to confer the ‘Tearful Crocodile’ Award. While his six-hour sitting stint (a record for any CM, though there is no record of any other CM even attempting it) to watch scantily-clad starlets and sirens swaying to sizzling song sequences can secure him the Ruler-Drooler award, his shifting stands on various political issues entitles him to the ‘Super Somersaulter’ award. A ‘Dark (k)night award is long overdue for wearing black glasses for nights without end. Readers can come up with their own versions; remember there is an eager taker who is unlikely to ward off any award that is on offer.
The plight of Anna’s DMK or filmdom is not our concern here. That party ending up in the private kitty of K clan is an expected evolutionary fall — parinama veezhchi. And with its own political agendas and aspirations, filmdom has willingly walked into the wolves’ lair. For his part, the, cm, common man, is an ideal foil for the CM, Chief Minister. Dazed by the dazzle of their favourite stars, TN’s denizens have little time or mind for such mundane things as rice, roads, water etc. In any case, these petty issues can easily be addressed if the CM’s cell opens a special counter for State-sponsored free tickets to the forthcoming Deepavali releases, two or three of which are from the family stable. See, how your tax money, paid with much pain, comes back to you loaded with pleasure? And incidentally, indulges K’s endless ego trips, comic charades really, too? All this in a rational State!
Oops, hats off to this man! When he talks, you retort in a thousand words more. And when he doesn’t, you still reel out in reams. K, surely, scripts our lives and times. Now that certainly calls for an ‘Lifetime of Awards’ award!
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