Is cinema a positive influence in Tamil Nadu politics?

With elections in Tamil Nadu gearing up, one development drawing sharp attention is the entry of Vijay, whose political debut is expected to command a significant share of the vote. He comes from a long line of figures in the State who have transitioned from cinema to politics.

In Tamil Nadu, the film world and politics have mutually benefited each other. The Dravidian movement changed the face of cinema. C. N. Annadurai, founder of the DMK, and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi deeply influenced Tamil cinema. Cinema became a medium to propagate ideas of social reform.

The dialogues Karunanidhi penned for Parasakthi, starring Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role, marked a clear departure from a cinema that had been largely dominated by songs. This helped the DMK secure power in Tamil Nadu.

Similarly, M. G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, used cinema to meticulously cultivate an image that later helped him in politics, going on to become the Chief Minister of the State.

But does entering politics necessarily guarantee success? And how crucial has cinema been in defining the political landscape of Tamil Nadu?

Guest: A S Panneerselvan, Director General, Chennai Institute of Journalism

Host: Bhagavathi Sampath K. J., Srinivasan Ramani

Edited and produced by Shiksha Jural

Read excerpts from the conversation here

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