CHENNAI (TIP): Two reigning superstars of Tamil cinema – Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan – on Aug 10 attended 75th anniversary celebrations of DMK’s mouth piece Murasoli in Chennai on Thursday amid speculation about their joining politics.
While Rajinikanth is being assiduously wooed by the ruling BJP at the centre, his contemporary Kamal Haasan has been critical of the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu.
Haasan took a seat on the dais along with DMK working president MK Stalin and other senior party leaders. Rajinikanth, however, was sitting in the front row. The participation of the two actors, who have a large fan following, at the event of its mouthpiece is viewed as a coup of sorts in political event management by the DMK.
Ideologically, Haasan is perceived to be close to the DMK and might even consider associating with the opposition party. Stalin often defended Haasan against scathing attacks by AIADMK leaders for being critical of the government.
Rajinikanth, who has also indicated his intention to join politics a few weeks ago, is likely to launch his own party and have an alliance with the BJP, which is trying hard to make an inroad into the southern state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajinikanth reportedly enjoy a personal rapport.
All the BJP leaders of significance make it a point to call on the superstar when in Chennai. The latest to call on him was BJYM president Poonam Mahajan, who was here the day before to address a rally. She is also said to have requested Rajinikanth to join the BJP.
However, RSS ideologue and chartered accountant S Gurumurthy, who is said to have the ear of the superstar, is convinced that Rajinikanth should float his own party and have an alliance with the BJP.
The moment of the day was when Stalin was flanked by the two superstars of Tamil cinema amid combined whir of camera shutters and flash bulbs popping to capture the event, beamed live over television.
Rajinikanth was invited on stage, where he was felicitated by Stalin. Source: HT