With polling in Karnataka almost nearing as it is slated to be held on May 10, and recent furore Kichcha Sudeep’s support Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai created, debate about the bitter-sweet relationship between the politics and Sandalwood is worth the time. In the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh cinema and politics have a relationship that is almost unbreakable. Actors like M. G. Ramachandran in Tamil Nadu and N. T. Rama Rao in Andhra Pradesh were Chief Ministers at their time and people accepted their stars as state leaders too. Even now, every star worth his money has an inclination towards political parties in that belt. However, in Karnataka the politics and film industry have been like parallel lines that never meet. Of course, they share a camaraderie and fight in the dark but it’s limited to just that and nothing more!
Recently, we saw Kichcha Sudeep’s lending support to BJP’s Basavaraj Bommai irked many in and outside the film industry. Likewise, many of Kannada film stars have involved themselves in political campaigns but have not shown keen interest in actively pursuing politics. If at all there are and have been few in politics, they are just actors from the industry but no stars.
Gokak Movement
Kannada actors have always exhibited language pride. They have always raised voice whenever there was a threat to Kannada and thereby Karnataka. There are many instances where Sandalwood stood with the state. In 1980 the actors of Kannada Industry including Varanata Dr. Rajkumar and Dr. Vishnuvardhan took keen interest in Gokak movement. However, later they maintained distance from active politics.
Further, many political parties offered Dr. Rajkumar a chance to contest elections but he politely refused. Till today, his family members have not shown any keen interest in politics. Eventhough the daughter-in-law of the family Geeta Shivarajkumar is daughter of Former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa the family has clearly stayed away from active politics.
As an exception, the few actors who rose on to become Ministers were Anantnag, Ambareesh and Umashree. However, barring Umashree, the other two later distanced themselves from politics for reasons unknown.
One cannot clearly say why the Kannada industry has maintained distance from politics, but it seems to be because various parties have ideological difference and probably they don’t want to lose or divide their fanbase on the basis of party.