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Onscreen heroes can’t capture power, claims Publicity Minister
State Information and Publicity Minister Kadambur Raju on Monday took potshots at actor-politicians aspiring to capture power in the state and said that power cannot be captured by merely donning the role of heroes onscreen.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Replying to the debate on demand for grants for his ministry in the state Assembly on Monday, Raju described actorpoliticians as “spent forces” of cinema industry who dream of capturing political power after their fame, money and even acting fades away, apparently targeting Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who were the latest from Kollywood to stake claim to the throne of Tamil Nadu.
“I would like to clarify to them (actorpoliticians). Not all who sport a beard can become Thanthai Periyar.
Not all with rhetoric flourish can become Anna. Not all waving two fingers can become MGR. Not all who utter ‘seiveergala’ can become Amma (Jayalalithaa).
Power cannot be captured by merely donning the role of hero onscreen,” Raju thundered, taking a swipe at the aspiring politicians from the “dream factory.”
Raju’s latest jibe at actors comes after a brief interval. AIADMK Ministers were of late going slow on their verbal assault on actors, mainly Rajinikanth after the superstar had echoed views akin to that of the state government, ‘justifying’ the police action during the anti-Sterlite protests which claimed 13 lives in Thoothukudi.
Pertinently, the icons Minister Raju referred to, Anna, MGR and Jayalalithaa, were all from cinema industry.
Unlike Anna and MGR (not to mention Karunanidhi, a dialogue writer who had ruled the state five times) who were using cinema as a tool to advance their political agenda, cinema was the sole launch pad for Raju’s revered leader Amma too.
Cut in shooting fees under consideration: Raju
The Minister cited references to the recent media reports where cinema producers had made such claims in the last few days. Chandrashekar sought the government to reduce the fee to carry out cinema shootings on the road and as well in the MGR Film Institute in the city.
The Velachery MLA observed that the life of the film fraternity has taken a hit due to the overpriced tickets had worsened due to the online piracy sponsored by websites such as ‘Tamil Rockers.’ The legislator demanded that the state should waive the entertainment tax completely.
Raju, in reply, said the government has regularised the cinema ticket fare and that there were no such instances as claimed by Chandrashekar of the tickets being priced at Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.
“The state’s intervention in fixing ticket prices has been
welcomed by Theatre owners, film distributors and film producers and their respective associations,” the Minister said.
As regards to the request on reducing fee for shooting, the Minister said the present rates for shooting films on road is fixed at Rs 3,000 and in certain buildings and locations were fixed at Rs 5,000 and on the halls and roads within the premises of MGR Film Institute was fixed at Rs 8,000.
“The issue raised by the legislator has some practical difficulties and would require relaxation of the rules laid down by the state. Such things are under the consideration of the government,” he said.
The Minister also boasted of affixing two-slab tax for theatres pricing tickets under Rs 100 and the other post GST-regime. “The state has also brought down the entertainment tax to 8 per cent from 30 per cent,” he said.
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