As he took to the podium at Harvard University in Massachusetts in the US in a black shirt and dhoti, it was politician Kamal Haasan who addressed the audience. He laid out his priorities to the audience in a short opening address before diving right into a crucial question in his one-on-one interview with journalist Barkha Dutt.
When questioned about a possible alliance with Superstar Rajinikanth, who has also decided to plunge into the political quagmire of Tamil Nadu, Kamal minced no words and made it clear that the event seemed unlikely. And the reason he offered – Rajinikanth’s ‘saffron hue’.
“We can exist as friends be on one side. But polity is different. I am trying to make a difference to my state. Our general intent may be the good of the people. But I believe that there is a certain way in which good will have to come to the people,” said Kamal.
“I don’t like to take a detour. It might happen. We’ll wait for his manifesto to be out. Mine will be out soon on the 21st (of February). If it gels, in polity, for the sake of the people, a good alliance... if it is not full of lies, deceits and tacit under the table nods... that is no good for the people. If that is not there and we are able to see eye to eye on a point – maybe. But I don’t think so because in his very first announcement he made some statements that gave him a hue – I hope it is not saffron. I hope his hue is not saffron.”
He further added that this ‘hue’ would come in the way of a political agreement.
“As of now I don’t see it (alliance) happening. If this is the route he is going to take and if the hue he is going to acquire is going to be saffron, then I can’t see a clear understanding, unless he gives some other explanation that convinces my rational mind,” offered Kamal.
“In religion, we are not the same school of thought. We are poles apart. It will absolutely come in the way of a political agreement. Unless he has a different take on how he wants to take it to the people,” he added.
When asked what his hue was, the actor pointed at his shirt and said, “Deep inside, this (black) is my colour. And that optically speaking reflects all colours. So, that is what it is. I would like to be as versatile but united into one ethos. When I say Dravidian, people think I am going to focus on one string. But mine is a multi-stringed instrument.”
Kamal had said in his introduction that ‘all is not well in Tamil Nadu’.
“Three big things are plaguing my state. The first is apathy shown by the political class to the state’s financial health and management; the second is the inability to manage state treasures such as waterways; and then the gradual lowering of bar in society, be it Education, Health, Employment…,” said the actor.
During his address, he announced that his website www.maiyam.com was up and running. He further told the audience that on February 21, he would announce the name of his party and that he was going to adopt a village in every district of the state.