India Today – August 13, 2018

42 INDIA TODAY AUGUST 13, 2018

Q. Your last film is likely to be a sequel to the superhit In-

dian. Do you see yourself as a rebel in Indian politics?

A. No. I am a ‘polity-culturist’ [someone who cultivates a

new polity]. I have come to challenge the status quo. It is not

about power. We have to change. I am that change. You must

become the change. If it sounds pompous, forgive me. It is the

lack of confidence that has brought us to this level. Cultural

guys will change the way politics is done in the country. All

my lines are not thought out by me. Their resonance is com-

ing from the people; surprisingly from the younger people.

Their angst and anger choke you. I don’t believe in vigilantism

because I am a fan of Gandhiji. He is more dangerous. To be

an ahimsavadi [practitioner of non-violence] is the height of

valour. It is easy to talk about it but practising it is a life-long

effort. You may or may not succeed.

Q. Retirement implies a sense of accomplishment. Have you

achieved all your milestones in your 55 years in cinema?

A. I have only been attempting it. Cinema is a miniscule

part of society. I can arrogate to myself the claim that I am

an expert. But it means nothing. There were fantastic art-

ists in Germany who let fascism submerge them and look

what happened. They lent their art to a crime like [Leni]

Riefenstahl. I don’t want to be part of that. I want to be the

voice that screams for change.

Q. But cinema can also be a potent weapon for change?

A. Cinema as business drags me in another direction. The

politics of business is worse than actual politics. At least here

you pretend to do some good; there that pretence is not there.

Q. Rajinikanth too has ventured into politics but hasn’t

mentioned any plans to retire so far.

A. It’s a personal choice. What compels him to stop work

when he is reigning supreme? Also he’s not into politics yet.

He only talks politics. When he starts a party and announces

his manifesto, it will be time to debate, discuss or align.

Q. As an actor you have made a mark in multiple languages.

Do you see yourself as a pan-India politician?

A. Of course. I am an Indian. My politics is not parochial.

Why do you think I talk about Gujarati gentlemen called

Mr Gandhi or Mr Modi? Both affect me. I sing the national

anthem which is not in my language. That’s the beauty of

the country—its diversity.

Q. Did you have an epiphany that politics was your calling?

A. Akshara [his daughter] had seen me cry. I said this is not

what I am supposed to do. She asked, ‘What is it? Are you

unhappy? Are you thinking about your personal life?’ I was

thinking about life. I started writing when I was 18. I have

not used my freedom responsibly or properly. I have been

given pen and paper but I never wrote the poetry down. I

am always mumbling it.

Q. Why the self-censoring?

A. Everyone’s doing it. We think we have appointed someone

and it will do. It’s like I am sleeping well because I know the

watchman is there. That’s why the PM says ‘Main chowkidaar

hoon’. But he also has a circadian rhythm. What if he sleeps?

Q. Which gets us to the man himself. You have met Rahul

Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Pinarayi Vijayan. Any plans of

meeting the prime minister?

A. I have asked for an appointment. There are

many letters lying on his table.

Q. What would you tell him?

A. Everything I have said until now but in a

humbler tone. There’s no fight. We only have a

difference of opinion.

Q. Is politics more demanding than cinema?

A. People make it seem so but it isn’t. It’s people’s

business. You are excited by it. Cinema doesn’t

offer you the next level of surprise, people do. I enjoy this

[politics] very much. You can’t make me work this hard

for any film. When I am paid, I will sulk and want facilities.

Here they come and drag me through slime and mud and I

am smiling happily.

Q. Is it different handling cinema and political audiences?

A. Absolutely. One is captive, they will never bite me. It’s very

comfortable for there’s a meshed cage and I can say anything

and there’s no reaction. If it is, then it is the Padmavati reac-

tion. Here they are in the wild. If you don’t give the answer,

you are prey. You shouldn’t and cannot manipulate them.

Q. Political analysts argue that most actors-turned-politi-

cians think success is yet another box-office formula.

A. There’s no formula. Very strangely, it is like commando

training. Practise ad nauseam and be ready to improvise.

Nothing will go to plan once you hit the ground.

Q. It is said that breaking the DMK-AIADMK cycle in Tamil

Nadu is almost impossible?

A. Impossible is not an option is all I can say.

“My politics is not parochial. Why

do you think I talk about Gujarati

gentlemen called Mr Gandhi or

Mr Modi? Both affect me”

INTERVIEW / KAMAL HAASAN