At last, megastar Chiranjeevi has plunged headlong into politics. It was expected but was agonisingly protracted. It must have come as a relief for his fans. But hang on a sec. None of us will ever be seeing Chiranjeevi dance!! Sounds unthinkable, for we have all been so used to watching his leg shakes from childhood. This is nothing short of a tragedy!
I remember the first movie I ever saw of Chiru way back in 1982 or 83. The film was Khaidi, our desi version of Rambo, which catapulted Chiru into stardom. The feverish excitement of those days cannot adequately be explained. Forcing parents by nagging them for weeks, to watch the star bash the bad guys and ``break into a dance'' was sheer pleasure.
The 80s saw the release of a plethora of his films like Yadmudiki Mogudu, Rakshasudu, Vijetha, Attaki Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu, Adavi Donga etc etc. Some of the most memorable dances have stuck in my mind. One from Challenge, Yadmudiki Mogudu, his break dance, as it was popularly known then, held us all in a thrall in the song Surpeme Hero.
The solo song in Trinetrudu is fantastic even by today's standards. And then, the best of all perhaps, was his performance in
Aaj Ka Gundaraj __ the Hindi remake of Telugu blockbuster Gangleader. The solo song in the Hindi version is amazing. Having seen the Telugu version, several of us bunked college to watch just that song.
The point is, Chiranjeevi has been so much a part of every 80s child that, now almost three decades later when he has entered politics and spoke in the manner that he did __ with an obvious will to serve and highly motivated __ it's hard not to get that same nostalgic feeling of the 80s, the same thrill and fascination.
Newspapers are dedicating columns and columns to speculating whether he will succeed. Whatever the prophesies of cynics, one thing is certain. If Chiranjeevi manages to touch the hearts of the people__ in particular men and women in their late 20s, 30s and 40s __ he is sure to revolutionise state politics cutting across the caste divide.
Dressed in an immaculate white shirt and black trousers, pumping his fists, the star at his very first press conference as a politician acquitted himself creditably. Importantly, he was able to convey the spirit that has guided him into politics.
The film industry, which has been home to the Kamma community, is visibly divided. Some of its prominent men like Raghavender Rao and Murali Mohan have met TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu soon after Chiru's announcement.
Meanwhile, comedian Brahmanandam has already made it clear that he is ready to contest on a Chiru party ticket and bid adieu to films. Current heart-throb Mahesh Babu is being ``trained'' to campaign for the Congress, sources said. The industry is fast turning into different battle camps!
Exciting times are ahead! at least for us. After all, we are journalists!