Bengaluru: The crisis that has engulfed the Congress with its rout under ‘heir’ Rahul Gandhi does not seem to have deterred its Tamil ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from furthering its own dynasty.
Earlier this month, the DMK appointed party chief M.K. Stalin’s son and late patriarch M. Karunanidhi’s grandson M. Udhayanidhi Stalin, a 41-year-old actor-director-producer, as the secretary of its youth wing.
It is believed in Tamil Nadu that actors make good politicians — at least two former chief ministers, MGR and Jayalalithaa, first entered public consciousness with films. Udhayanidhi’s followers say he is no exception.
If anything, they say, he has the added advantage of having been born into a political family.
Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, an old friend of Udhayanidhi, told ThePrint how, as a young boy of seven, he would sit with his grandfather during meetings and watch leaders strategise and discuss politics. He also began touring the state during elections early on, he said.
“In 1984, when Stalin contested his first election, Udhayanidhi stood by him throughout the campaign,” added Mahesh. “As he grew older, he accompanied his father (Stalin) to every election campaign, be it a local body, assembly or parliamentary election,” he said.
Young DMK cadres speak very fondly of this budding politician. They recall how, during the devastating Odisha cyclone of 1999, Udhayanidhi went around collecting funds and relief material and ensured that it was sent to affected people through the chief minister’s relief fund. His sense of maturity and candour, they told ThePrint, have won many hearts.
No-nonsense attitude
One of the most impressive qualities of Udhayanidhi, added Mahesh, is his discreet and no-nonsense attitude.
“He remains quiet most of the times and makes people around him do all the talking, he is very observant and has a keen eye to pick up minute details in politics,” he said.
“There were times he would participate in public functions of the party, but he always stood below the dais. He would never be found on the dais as he wanted to be one with the cadres,” added Mahesh.
“Standing with the flag in hand, raising slogans just near the stage, he would ensure that people knew he was there as a DMK worker and not because of his lineage. Even if he was called on-stage, he would make his speech and go back down,” Mahesh said.
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A family legacy
Transition from movies to politics comes easy to the Karunanidhi family. Karunanidhi made his start in life as a writer for films, scripting such cinematic gems as ‘Parasakthi’, ‘Manohara’, and ‘Malaikkallan’, and came to be known as ‘Kalaignar’ (scholar of arts).
Son Stalin also tried his luck as an actor with ‘Ore Raththam’ and ‘Makkal Aanayittal’ before taking the political plunge. Udhayanidhi seems to be following the same path.
He entered films as a producer and distributor with a production studio called Red Giant Movies.
Some of his Tamil productions, like ‘Kuruvi’, ‘Aadhavan’ and ‘Manmadan Anbu’, were super hits, as were movies he distributed, ‘Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa’, ‘Mynaa’, ‘Madrasapattinam’ and ‘Boss Engira Bhaskaran’.
He made his acting debut in 2012 with the romantic comedy ‘Oru Kal Oru Kannadi’, scoring a Filmfare Award for his portrayal of a smitten young man who chases his object of affection to her wedding with another man.
A clear message
Udhayanidhi’s formal inclusion into the party hierarchy is being seen as a clear message to the cadres that the succession line would remain within the family.
In the DMK, the post of youth wing secretary is a coveted one. Stalin held the post for more than 30 years, until he stepped down in 2017 to make way for DMK loyalist and former minister Vellakoil Saminathan, whom Udhayanidhi now replaces.
In 2016, Stalin had said in an interview to Tamil magazine Vikatan that neither his son nor his son-in law would join politics.
“I can assure you that no one from my family will be joining politics,” he had declared.
Weighing in on the U-turn, Bengaluru-based political analyst Sandeep Shastri said one needed to see Udhayanaidhi’s induction in the context of Stalin’s “family compulsions”.
“Stalin’s stepsister (MP) Kanimozhi is playing an important role in the party, as are other family members… So, to ensure a proper line of succession is set, even though Stalin has still not been able to become CM, he wants to send a message to the cadres about who his successor will be,” Shastri added.
DMK spokesperson Saravanan described Udhayanidhi as a “fighter”, pointing out how he had moved court many times to ensure his movies didn’t pay for his family’s rivalry with the AIADMK of the late Jayalalithaa.
When Jayalalithaa was chief minister, Tamil movies with U-certification (universal, suitable for children) were given a tax exemption. But Saravanan claimed each of Udhayanidhi’s movies was deemed ineligible.
“He fought Jayalalithaa tooth and nail. He would take her to court each time, fight it out and ensure that justice is served,” Saravanan said.
DMK cadres say that Udhayanidhi is as committed to the Dravidian ideology as his family. But whether it will help him chart a successful political innings is a question only time will answer, they add.
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This report has been updated to correct a discrepancy in Udhayanidhi’s age