Rajini can’t emulate MGR, say analysts

Chennai: Rajinikanth's political entry is a “bold move” as it comes at the “right time” but only time can tell whether he can emulate the stupendous success late M. G. Ramachandran tasted in politics by holding the Chief Minister's chair for three straight terms.

Political analysts and observers are unanimous in their opinion that the star will face several challenges — from translating his fans into his core supporters, maintain his invincibility and to sustain in the hurly-burly of politics. He has always been compared to the late MGR, but some analysts say the comparison was not fair since 1972 and 2017 are quite different.

While welcoming him into politics, they agreed with each other that it would be near impossible for Rajinikanth to emulate his senior in the tinsel town — the legendary M.G. Ramachandran, whose fan base, they say, are an extension of the then ruling DMK. MGR had a hat trick shot at power from 1977 — he launched his AIADMK in 1972 — till his death in 1987.

Prof Ramu Manivannan and MGR's biographer R Kannan agreed that MGR's fans association were an extension of the DMK and the leader was very much part of the DMK and politics when he launched his AIADMK in 1972.

“MGR's fans associations were an extension of the DMK. In addition to feting their hero they also did social work. To an extent they were politically conscious. MGR's film and public career were inextricably interwoven — that his 20,000 fan units could be converted in a single day into the ADMK. Only time can tell if an actor should possess political and societal credentials like MGR in TN,” Kannan said.

 And Manivannan also spoke on the same lines. “Rajinikanth cannot be compared to Late MGR in any way because MGR was politically active when he launched the AIADMK in 1972.