Regardless of how we have looked at leaders in real life, film directors have more or less presented us sanitised versions of their personalities on-screen. Filmy Chief Ministers have dominantly been a symbol of idealism, seen as symbols of a wave of new hope, endowed with the power to wipe away the corrupt and stand up for the downtrodden. The latest addition to the list seems Bharat Ram from Bharat Ane Nenu . The trailers have hinted at a leader who leaves no stone unturned to fulfil his promise as a leader of the masses. Here, we look at other on-screen CMs who've equally entertained, if not inspired, us.
Anandan: ‘Iruvar’
An interesting, rather than an ideal, choice to play the protagonist in a film loosely inspired by the life of actor turned politician M G Ramachandran, Mohanlal's Anandan is shown both from a personal and a public perspective in Iruvar/Iddaru . From the women in his life, his friends, foes to his conscious choice of film roles whose charm rubbed onto his political space, Mani Ratnam takes us through the drama that plays in the mind of a mass leader. He doesn't colour the film with his opinion but allows the viewer to take a neutral approach in dissecting his character. However it's the nuanced storytelling, the 4:3 framing for a period effect, the visual metaphors, enjoyable cinematic liberties and of course Mohanlal's performance that we remember the film more for.
Shivaji Rao: ‘Rakta Charithra’
Not many would have imagined Shatrughan Sinha to don the shoes of a role like Shivaji Rao, inspired by NTR in Rakta Charitra . ‘Trust RGV’ was a mantra many believed in before the release of the gory series and he didn't disappoint. Realising that an overdose of dialogues could backfire in such a portrayal, the director and the actor focus more on imbibing NTR's histrionics here. The brief pauses during his speeches were an attempt to recreate the actor-politician's aura. The role works, for the character is an apt bridge between personal judgement and popular opinion, there's enough mystery on his smart, sometimes shrewd mind-play that only a Shatrughan Sinha could have brought about.
Pughazhendi: ‘Mudhalvan’
A master at marrying populism with entertainment, director Shankar crafts Pughazhendi as a CM with umpteen shades of cinematic highs. From being a gutsy journalist willing to take on a corrupt CM no matter what, as an opportunity-seeker keen to make all the difference within a day's span of occupying the CM’s chair, standing tall even as he's coping with a personal loss, choosing leadership over love when in conflict, knowing the difference between smart and politically correct decisions, here was an all-white CM with an unquestionable authority. And we're yet to come across a CM as entertaining as him.
Suryanarayana: ‘Adhineta’
This was a time Jagapati Babu wasn't in his best of forms. From being a local leader who enjoyed public trust to serving as a secretary to the CM and then occupying the CM's chair, Suryanarayana only appears a mere trope in giving a political twist to a regular revenge, family drama script. There are too many dream sequences for a soon-to-be CM here, which is okay, but the plot more or less seems an excuse that you can't blame an otherwise sincere portrayal of Jagapati Babu. One wished to have seen more poise and authority for a CM who could have backed his never-ending preaching by some execution too.
Arjun Prasad: ‘Leader’
Not all films/characters are to be judged by individualistic value alone. Leader gave us a CM (played by Rana Daggubati) who captured the public pulse of the then united AP in the context of Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's death, which Sekhar Kammula had repeatedly insisted wasn't intentional. Protagonist Arjun Prasad comes across as a character with a single-minded focus. This is the closest a director has come in blending reality with idealism. This was a leader every youngster wanted to be. Rana's personality proved an added advantage to the portrayal of the role in his debut film.
