So what kind of neta is Kamal?

The actor-turned-politician will give politics his  best shot, his friends in the Kannada film industry  say. But not everyone is convinced he will click.

On the sets, actor Kamal Haasan would often talk about Mahatma Gandhi, and his co-actors in Bengaluru aren't entirely surprised he has now plunged into politics.  Kamal launched the Makkal Needhi Maiam in Madurai on Thursday. Actor-director Ramesh, who has collaborated on many projects with Kamal, recalls two Gandhi quotes Kamal has always been fond of: "Be the change you want to see" and "There's enough for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed".

In an interview with 'Metrolife', Ramesh, shares his thoughts about Kamal's foray into politics.

Excerpts:

What are your thoughts on Kamal entering politics?

Some things in the system have been bothering him for a long time. It has all erupted. Entering politics is like entering a war front. I admire the courage behind such a huge decision. He has big radical ideas and his intentions are good.

What are his prospects in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka?

One can never really predict when it comes to elections. Arvind Kejriwal becoming chief minister of Delhi in such a short time was a surprise. Many exit polls cut a sorry figure trying to predict the public mood. Till the vote is cast, I better not turn soothsayer.

What do you think prompted Kamal to take the plunge?

His father was an active Congressman. Political discussions must have been a part of his growing up. He has always had strong views. He has said corruption and misgovernance prompted him to take the plunge.

Do you think Kamal will team up with Upendra and other actor-politicians?

Upendra is focussing on Karnataka and Kamal on Tamil Nadu. Any overlap of manifestos should decide that.

What is your gut feeling about how the people of Tamil Nadu will react to Kamal in politics?

Kamal has a huge emotional connect with the people of Tamil Nadu. I remember there was a massive turnout for the 'muhurtham' for Kamal's 'Virumandi'. Kamal is inspiring people to dream for a better tomorrow.

What are Kamal's leanings left, right or centre?

Kamal would prefer to be called a centrist rather than a leftist or rightist.

Will he be able to stand up to the DMK and the AIADMK?

In politics, people and circumstances decide who David is and who Goliath is. True, the two parties are well organised and have a long history, but Kamal's personal charisma is huge. He is someone who likes to excel in whatever he does. He will give it his 100 per cent. I don't think politics is dirty by default, people make it so.

Do you intend to join politics anytime soon?

I never say never because you don't know what life has in store. Right now, I don't have any such plans.

He is breaking stereotypes

ACTOR-DIRECTOR UPENDRA, who recently  launched his political party Prajaakeeya in Karnataka. He feels he and Kamal are  attempting to break stereotypical ideas about politics. "I don't know why people  think it is hard to survive in politics. If one's intentions are good and if one has  hope, then one must be in politics. It is not such a bad place after all," he says.

He doesn't know ground realities

ACTOR CHETAN of 'Aa Dinagalu' fame, says Tamil Nadu needs to return to the politics of EV Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar), but Kamal is not aligned with it.

"Periyar brought about massive reformation with his Dravidar Kazhagam and his self-respect movement 80 years ago. It fought for the marginalised and Tamil linguistic rights," he says. Chetan says Periyar's ideology laid the foundation for politics with a centre outside Delhi. "Kamal has not voiced agreement with Periyar's politics. I am not convinced he is in touch with ground realities," he says.

He is a narcissist and can't go far
M K RAGHAVENDRA, FILM CRITIC

"It's wrong to think people  are waiting to vote for  film stars. Only three  have been successful so  far: NTR, MGR and Jayalalitha.  MGR came out  of a political movement and Jayalalitha inherited  his mantle. NTR rode on  a caste-based platform.

He was a Kamma and it  helped him rise to power.  Chiranjeevi was a failure  and Vijayakanth is trying  to bank on his Naidu  grouping with limited  success, as one might  expect.  Kamal is not an  actor with great mass  appeal. He appeals to  the upper-caste, largely  Brahmin, constituency  which is not a voting block  of significance.  Rajinikanth is a true  mass star but neither  leader belongs to majority
caste groups.

They have  no political associations  they have assiduously  cultivated.  There is a large  vacuum in Tamil Nadu  politics after the death  of Jayalalithaa and this  is the time for political  entrepreneurs to try their  luck. Rajini and Kamal  have both reached the end  of their film careers and  they think politics is the  only option left for them.

They both suffer from  having fans and sycophants  around them,  which prevents them from  getting a good measure of  their chances. They have  hence got into politics.  

Kamal is educated  and from a sophisticated  background. He gives  hope to the same groups  that supported Kejriwal.  His rhetoric therefore  talks about the same  thing: corruption. But this  anti-corruption platform  is not a viable one, as the Kejriwal experience is  showing. The political  system demands huge  amounts of money to be spent and that can't be  mobilised honestly.  We don't know how  Tamil Nadu politics will  turn out in the next two  years.  Many bit players are  trying their luck. I think Kamal will only be a bit  player and if he thinks  he has a good chance of  becoming chief minister,  it is because of his  narcissism."

Actor, yes. Neta, errr...

ACTOR THARA, who  acted with Kamal  in Mani Ratnam's  'Nayakan', says, "He is a legendary actor. But  as a politician, I don't  know what he can do."