Chennai Corner

Games Politicians Play
Tamil Nadu's politicians are focused on Sri Lankan Tamils. CM Karunanidhithreatened once again to quit, and the CPI held an "all party" meetingwhich was boycotted by all the major parties including the DMK, AIADMK,Congress, DMDK, CPM and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. But the Tamils inChennai  have no advocacy while they reel under rising prices and powercuts.It's as if the CM has buried his head in the sand because whenever he speaksit's only about Sri Lankan Tamils. He even ignored reports that some restaurantswhich had been arm-twisted to offer "janata meals" at Rs 20 for hisbirthday on June 3, had raised/sometimes even doubled the price since then. It'samazing how cynical politicians can get proactive only when political mileage isassured or when they can score points off a rival.

For instance, Jayalalitha's favourite sport is to demand Karunanidhi'sresignation, no matter what the issue. Some months ago she wanted him to gobecause of the power situation (incidentally, the state is in such a jam thatdomestic consumers are getting lesser power cuts whereas a steep power cut of 40per cent is in force in industries from November 1). But, for someone who isquick with her comebacks, there was none from Jayalalitha when electricityminister Arcot Veeraswamy told the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly last weekthat the bi-monthly electricity bill for her Poes Garden residence was Rs1,02,468. Veeraswamy claimed he was "reluctant" to out her electricitybill but was compelled to because she "had been unfair in makingallegations that there was a 20 hour powercut when she herself consumed so muchelectricity." He made it a point to reveal that the CM's power bill was Rs15,000. What he did not say was whether this was for the CM's Gopalapuramresidence alone or it also included the power consumed in his CIT colony house.

Malls Are Not "Happening"
Speaking of power, or the lack of it, shops and malls are having a tough timebecause of the power situation. The inflation and the anxiety brought on by thefinancial gloom has not helped. While Citi Centre is a smaller mall and isgetting by with its back up generator, Spencer Mall – the pioneer in malls inthe country – is having a tough time. Before power cuts were imposed, nearly40,000 people came to Spencer's everyday. Now only 10,000 people come with theresult that many shopkeepers are considering moving their business elsewhere.

Also hit badly are young mallrats who used to hang out at Spencer's becauseit's a place to window shop, is cool -- literally -- and a place to get fancycoffee and cakes at fancier prices (that the young think are hip but parents getinto apoplectic fits about). One student who misses hanging out -- and horror ofhorrors is a regular at her class now -- says, "Spencer's used to be afavourite among our group to hang out. But these days, we hardly cut classes togo there as there's no AC, it's quite stuffy and dark most of the time and as aresult malls are "not happening" anymore." 

One can only dread the summer.

When Stars Come Out To Shine
When Raj Thackeray slammed Jaya Bachchan recently for speaking in Hindi at afilm function, there was none in the film industry (including rent a quotefilmmaker Mahesh Bhat) to stand up for the Bachchans. Here it is much the sameas was seen when Rajnikanth had to bow down before Kannada activists so that Kuselanwould be released in Karnataka. But when it comes to politics -- whether it isthe Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Hogannekal or Cauvery waters -- actors sportingblack designerwear and designer sunglasses (or cooling glasses, as they arecalled here) stand up to be counted. Apart from the recent fast at the NadigarSangam for Sri Lankan Tamils in which Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Ajith, Vikram,Vijay, Surya, Sharath Kumar, Nayanthara and Trisha participated, there wereother overtures too. Kamal told his fans to desist from celebrating his birthday(on November 7), Vijay (accompanied by his wife, parents and fans) went on aday-long fast (despite the solemnity of the occasion he could not quellenthusiastic fans from breaking into a jig to "nee endha ooru" from Tirupatchi).The latest is that Rajnikanth has told his fans not to celebrate his birthdaywhich is at least three weeks away (on December 12).

So Why Do They Do It?
But do stars make these expansive gestures because 

• (a) They feel for the Sri Lankan Tamils? 
• (b) Some in the industry including director Ameer and Sreeman are vocal votaries of the LTTE and stars want to get on their right side?
• (c) Together they make for a great photo op?
• (d) They want a day off from shooting even if they have to be in the sun absorbing its scorching rays through their black outfits?
• (e) Of all the of above.

There's one more reason: being part of a human chain when your film has justreleased is a hell of an opportunity to promote your film. Granted that whenSurya (and his brother actor Karthi) held hands with hundreds of techies atRajiv Gandhi Tidel Park and sported T-shirts that said "Guns areheartless" and "Stop the war", he did not speak about VaaranamAayiram that was released over the week-end. But isn't it ironical that heplays a major who fights terrorists in the film and yet is out there standingfor peace?

Money, Money, Money
There is one more reason, perhaps the primary reason for this show ofbrotherhood. It's money, honey! The overseas market for a Rajnikanth Tamil filmthat used to be Rs 1 crore in 2000 has risen meteorically to nearly Rs 12 crore.And more to the point, the overseas market is controlled by Sri Lankan Tamils.In fact, while traditionally Tamil films have always found takers in Malaysiaand Singapore because of the Tamils of Indian origin, the war in Sri Lanka hasdriven its Tamils to Europe, UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. AsLondon-based Sri Lankan Tamil K Karunamoorthy of Ayngaran International, a majordistributor of Tamil films says, "The overseas market for Tamil films isone quarter of the box office collection for Bollywood films and growing everyyear and is star-driven." No wonder that when it came to contributing tothe cause, Rajnikanth topped the list with Rs 10 lakh.

The Trickle Of Refugees Begins
While on the subject of Sri Lanka, once again refugees are finding their way toTN's shores as the army relentlessly marches to claim areas which were underLTTE control for several years. TN already has 75,000 refugees in 117 camps andnow the trickle has started. Last week, 100 refugees fled to islets betweenThalaimannar and Dhanushkodi. While the Navy and Coast Guard let in refugees,there's no way of telling whether the LTTE is impersonating them.