Andhra Pradesh people are highly disappointed with latest union budget and AP politics took a steep turn post budget as MPs from all parties voiced against union government. While the debate is going on what will be the future of AP as even 4 years after bifurcation, there is no apparent development in the state. While the people of AP are literally blasting central government for betraying on assurances to AP, Tollywood celebrities are still mum on the issue.
Kathi Mahesh’s comments usually draw ire from mega fans. But his recent comment that “Member of Parliament Chiranjeevi is missing” did not evoke any negative response from mega fans or common people. Chiranjeevi, who is not just a star but also a politician is not seen anywhere criticizing the governments on not keeping up bifurcation assurances. Another star turned politician Nandamuri Bala Krishna, who is MLA from ruling TDP also didn’t utter a word while the MPs like Jayadev from his party have shaken the parliament. Though the MPs have more responsibility to talk on the decisions of union government, the reach that these mass heroes have is unparalleled and their single tweet or post or response registers in the minds of people much better than the big speeches of parliamentarians. Nagarjuna and Venkatesh have never responded on Telangana issue or AP bifurcation issues. Venkatesh’s father Dr. D. Ramanaidu was a parliamentarian and his services to his constituency are still remembered. But his son, Venkatesh never responded on this kind of issues. Nagarjuna, who gave “(paid) sensational comments” while opening “another Jewelry store” -that he may join politics soon, never expressed his voice on SCS or bifurcation issues.
Pawan Kalyan, who recently formed JAC to achieve Special category status, is moving slowly and steadily but common people as well as his fans, who are waiting to see him blast BJP the way he did in Kakinada and Tirupati meetings are in for a bit disappointment. Jr. NTR, who once gave ferocious political speeches, chose not to speak on politics, of late. It is understandable if star heroes abstain to give political statements because of fear of losing some sections of people. But if entire state is in disappointment, how the heroes, who utter lengthy dialogues reel after reel on screen, completely go dumb off screen. The “Bahubali” who fights with his mother for keeping up his “word” on screen, might have reservations to to speak anything against the BJP party, as his uncle Krishnam Raju is in the same BJP party . Mahesh Babu, who voiced out for “Jallikattu” when his “Spyder” movie was planned to release in Tamil Nadu, never voiced on Special Category status for the people of AP who made him super star. At least he could have tweeted to appreciate his brother-in-law Galla Jayadev’s speech in parliament on the same subject.
Only upcoming Heroes like Nikhil, Sundeep Kishan, Siva Balaji, Sampoornesh Babu, Sai Dharam Tej, Manchu Manoj, have tweeted in favor of Special Category status at some point of time. The so called big heroes who are in 50 crore clubs, 80 crore clubs, 100 crore clubs, 200 crore clubs do not want to talk on issues like this. In neighbor state Tamil Nadu, we see super stars like Rajni, Kamal, Ajit, Vishal coming on to the roads in support of their people, their traditions, their language, their state, only “social issue” that our stars worry a lot about is “piracy”. Maybe unemployment, not having a capital for the state, not having national institutes in the state, not able to complete Polavaram, poverty of people are not as big issues as “piracy” is for them.
Everyone has their own private space. Super stars have every right to NOT respond on any issue or topic. There are many other people who are richer than and powerful than film stars. For example, we buy many consumer products on daily basis by paying money (similar to watching a movie by paying money). But people never ask those business people or CEOs or company owners to come and respond on social issues. But they ask only film stars. One can ask why people question only film stars. But it is these stars with whom people will have emotional connect. It is these stars who fight on “social evils” on screen. It is these stars who fight with goons, politicians, officers and against entire world for the sake of protecting a poor common man on the screen. So, people expect at least 1 % of that “society consciousness” from those stars off screen too – not because they pay money to watch them but because of the “invisible emotional bonding” with them that people carry through out their life. But will our stars understand this ever? This is a million dollar question..sorry, a 100 crore club question!!!
-Zuran
