DMK casts Kamal Haasan in a Rajya Sabha MP role. Aim to undercut Vijay's political debut?

India Today

29-05-2025

In 2018, a campaign video in which Kamal Haasan was seen smashing the TV screen with a torch went viral. That was just after the actor had stepped into politics, floating the Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM). He had made the torch his party symbol and gone around Tamil Nadu criticising every political party, including the DMK and its dynastic rule. Much water has flowed down the Cooum and the Cauvery since then, and now Kamal Haasan will be a Rajya Sabha MP, courtesy of the same DMK. Haasan has been accused of political hypocrisy, and he explained the U-turn as being driven by appreciation for some of the policies of the DMK.advertisementThe fact is, Kamal Haasan is an ambitious actor and filmmaker known for venturing into unexplored creative zones. But in his role as a politician, he has proved to be a more practical persona, reconciling with what he can and what he cannot. Kamal Haasan is a product of cinema and, not surprisingly, the joint political production with the DMK happened, courtesy of cinema. Haasan bankrolled his last hit, 'Vikram', in 2022 and the film was distributed by Red Giant Movies of Udhayanidhi Stalin. It started an association that finally resulted in Haasan saying 'Ek duje ke liye' to the DMK and becoming a part of the DMK-led alliance in the 2024 election. At that stage, he was given the option of either contesting the Lok Sabha elections or getting a Rajya Sabha seat a year later. Since Haasan chose the latter, the commitment is being honoured now.advertisementBut beyond being a big name in the world of cinema, unarguably one of the finest actors India has seen, what does Kamal Haasan bring to the table? In the past, the DMK's choice of names for a Rajya Sabha seat has either been staunch Dravidians, party loyalists or alliance partners. The decision to send Haasan as an Independent backed by the DMK to the House of Elders is to hit two birds with one stone.
In Parliament, the DMK expects Kamal Haasan to mince no words when it comes to taking an anti-BJP stance on issues like language, culture and alleged discrimination against states in south India not ruled by the BJP. The DMK has always taken a hard position when it comes to a perceived imposition of Hindi and Haasan with his ability to communicate in different languages, including Hindi, will be able to present the DMK's viewpoint.Haasan is also in sync with the Dravidian ideology on most issues and therefore there aren't likely to be any fault lines emerging when he is sent to the Upper House with help from the DMK.But more importantly, from a Tamil Nadu point of view, the NDA has extended an invitation to actor Vijay to join the alliance ahead of the assembly elections in 2026 and though it won't admit it, the DMK would be a trifle worried. For one, the ruling party may find itself short of starpower on the campaign trail and that is where Kamal Haasan comes in. Although the veteran actor is no longer in the same league as Vijay in terms of street popularity, especially among the youth and women, speaks with gravitas and is considered more intellectual, he is still a big name to present as a counter campaigner to Vijay.advertisementThe party realises that if the AIADMK and BJP are able to ensure the differences at the constituency and cadre level are addressed, they would be able to give the DMK alliance a good fight. But Edappadi Palaniswami is aware of how his late leader Jayalalithaa won the 2016 battle. At that time, a Third Front called the People's Welfare Front led by the likes of Vaiko, Vijaykanth and GK Vasan contributed to the DMK defeat by splitting the anti-AIADMK votes. There is a real threat to Vijay and his TVK doing a Third Front now. Hence, the wooing of the 'Ilayathalapathy' Vijay, despite the many anti-Vijay comments made by Tamil Nadu BJP leaders in the past.advertisementInterestingly, one of the options reportedly on the table is to offer one of the two Rajya Sabha seats which the AIADMK can win in the elections in June to Vijay or one of his TVK nominees. But for someone who aims to be chief minister of the state, taking a Rajya Sabha seat would adversely affect Vijay's carefully cultivated larger-than-life image. However, if such an option is being seriously discussed by people who matter, it indicates the intense desire of the BJP to get Vijay into the NDA fold.The choice of Haasan and three others for the four Rajya Sabha seats the DMK can win has also put the spotlight on the DMK's alliance politics. MK Stalin chose not to renominate Vaiko despite the seasoned political voice he has been and known to pack a punch in his speeches in the Rajya Sabha. That makes it evident that the DMK wants Haasan to do much of the heavy lifting during the election campaign, appealing to the educated and urban constituency voter in Tamil Nadu.What will be music to Haasan's ears would also be the fact that he would now find himself rubbing shoulders with his favourite music composer and colleague from the Tamil film industry, Ilaiyaraaja in the Rajya Sabha. The musical genius is a nominated member of the House and, though the duo agree on most things musical, the political twain shall not meet.(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Tune InTrending Reel