The Twitter war between Subramanian Swamy and Kamal Haasan gives credence to a prediction made here a few weeks ago: that while politicians and the media looked at Rajinikanth as the next actor-politician, it would be Kamal who'd shrewdly move into public life. One had also made the comment that Kamal was like the TN counterpart of Aamir Khan, who plans ahead with precisely calibrated moves.
They do have much in common apart from the fact that both are cinema-savvy, march to their own beat, and were the first prominent stars to have a mandatory kissing scene in their 90s' movies. Besides colourful personal lives that match their brilliant careers, Kamal and Aamir even share the same height: 1.65 metres. Today, both of them are making the right political noises as "responsible" celebrities. While Aamir smiled from the front pages of a prominent daily in Mumbai and exhorted citizens to vote, Kamal has used Twitter and prime time TV to put his politics across.
Kamal jumped into the fray during the jallikattu protests and the response he got was like tasting blood. Soon, the likelihood of him signing on for a more prominent role in politics was manifest in a Tweeter asking Swamy if the BJP would let Kamal lead TN from the front.
When Swamy retorted that he'd oppose this "boneless wonder" and "pompous idiot", Kamal's response was more circumspect. Noticeably, he took on Swamy with "His experience exceeds mine in acidic political exchanges" but he didn't once discount the possibility of a political career for himself.
Kamal will make a good politician. Whether you agree with him or not, he has strong views and the courage to stand up, speak up and face the consequences. We've seen it in his unconventional personal life about which he is unabashedly unapologetic, and in the risks he takes in his professional career.
As for facing opposition in public life, Twitter makes the perfect training ground to prepare an actor for a world beyond an adulatory media and fawning fan clubs.
Kamal also has notched up substantial brownie points that make him a credible role model. Like Shatrughan Sinha who was such a crazy admirer of Raj Kapoor that he took to smoking because of his idol and went on to blow smoke rings on the screen, Kamal too had begun smoking because of thespian Sivaji Ganesan who he idolised. Realisation of how much a celebrity impacted fans dawned on SS when he became acquainted with the downside of smoking. He not only kicked the butt but also took to active anti-tobacco campaigning.
Kamal, too, gave up the puff years ago and has, since then, never once smoked on screen. He has talked about the negative influence a role model could have which prompted him to take this decision as an actor.
Kamal has also never touched "black" money, an act which I don't know if any other actor in this country can declare with complete honesty. Early in his career, he had resolved that everything he earned would be accounted for; he'd have no black dealings in his life.
Kamal makes a valid case when he points out that despite never having taken black money, he has managed a good lifestyle.
For me, that alone makes Kamal a poster boy that Modi needs if he's serious about cleaning up the system. And he is short on such role models. Let me illustrate. There's a journo who made a solitary film that starred a certain BJP MP-cum-actor in the title role. When this MP made a chest-thumping speech in Parliament, the journo-filmmaker, who doesn't like this government, was quick to post that when she made her film, the said MP had insisted on a hefty percentage of her fee in "black".
In such a scenario, Kamal would be the rare exception.
Bharathi S. Pradhan is a senior journalist and author
