Films, politics go hand in hand in Mandya

Like films and Mandya are inseparable, films and politics in Mandya are inseparable. The Mandya Lok Sabha constituency and the Assembly constituencies under it have seen many colourful contests. If not the candidate, film stars would make a beeline to campaign for the candidates of all parties here.

The two main contestants in the LS polls, scheduled to be held here, on April 18, are also from the film industry. While Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, of the JD(S) is a new generation actor in Kannada and Telugu films, Sumalatha Ambareesh, a multi-lingual actor of an earlier generation, is the Independent candidate.

It has to be noted that Kumaraswamy is also a film distributor and producer. Besides, Sumalatha’s late husband Ambareesh was the ‘rebel star’ of the Kannada cinema. In fact, Ambareesh was the most popular face from the cinema to represent the people of Mandya in the state Assembly as well as the Parliament. He served as the minister in both the governments — state and Union.

Following in his footsteps, Ramya, an actor from the era between that of Sumalatha and of Nikhil, won the by-election in 2013. She lost in the 2014 general elections. Her bypoll was facilitated by the resignation of then MP N Cheluvarayaswamy, who returned to the state politics. Cheluvarayaswamy of the JD(S), now a Congress leader, also produced the film ‘Happy Birthday’ with his son Sachin in the lead role.

Among the MPs so far, since 1951, it has to be recalled that the terms, from 1984 to 1989, 1998 to 1999, 1999-2004, 2004 to 2008, 2008 to 2013, 2013 to 2014 and 2018 to 2019 have been held by persons related to films. The term 1984 to 1989 was held by K V Shankaregowda. His foray into politics was through freedom struggle and he strived for the development of cooperatives and education institutions. However, his love for literature and his creativity brought him closer to theatre and film personalities. He was the writer, director and producer of ‘Koodi Balona’. His son K S Sachidananda, who was also a MLC, later produced two films ‘Hosaneeru’ and ‘Sankranthi’. In fact, Ambareesh, who was born and brought-up in Mysuru, came in contact with Mandya through Shankaregowda.

Ambi served long-term

Ambareesh was the longest serving among the MPs related to films. He was JD MP from 1998 to 1999, and was Congress MP for two terms from 1999 to 2008. Ramya served for a short-term, from 2013 to 2014. The name of Rakshitha, a contemporary of Ramya in the film industry, was in circulation during the 2013 bypoll and also during the 2014 general election, to be pitted against Ramya. Rakshitha is married to film director Prem from Nagamangala taluk, under Mandya LS constituency.

Interestingly, even the present MP L R Shivaramegowda is related to the glamour world. His daughter Bhavya Gowda was Miss Earth (Midlands UK) in 2010. She won the title Miss Colombo Queen in 2013. Bhavya also pocketed the ‘Living Doll of the World’ title given by the World Bridal Association. She has acted in a few documentaries in the UK and also in a few music albums.

In fact, C S Puttaraju, JD(S) MP from 2014 to 2018, and veteran of the district, former chief minister S M Krishna, who was also MP from the constituency, are also related closely with film personalities.