Move over Baahubali, the Mahabharata is being played out in AIADMK
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's announcement that he will play the central character of Bhima in the Rs 1000-crore film, Randamoozham, has brought immense joy to film lovers. The film, which is based on an eponymous novel by MT Vasudevan Nair, is essentially a retelling of the Mahabharata from the perspective of Bhima.
The timing of the announcement coincides with the release of much awaited Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Looking at the frenzy that brand Baahubali has generated, it may be safely said that epics and mythology are currently the flavour of the season.
Coming back to Randamoozham, the Mahabharata is one of the most inspiring epics the world over. Its powerful narrative seamlessly blends the life lessons that are timeless and relevant for the current generation as well as for posterity.
The Mahabharata is often considered a rule book or guide to adhere by, during political tussles and the never-ending fight for power.
Given the current political turmoil south of the Vindhyas in the state of Tamil Nadu, one is left wondering which character from the epic would suit whom among the present leaders.
Essentially, the epic is the story of the Great War — the dharma yuddha. The man who started the dharma yuddha is Yudhishthira, the righteous one, the man of few words.
In Tamil Nadu's ongoing political Mahabharata, O Paneerselvam (OPS) would perhaps be the most eligible player to play that role. Had he not gone to the Marina Beach, and meditated in front of Amma's memorial, in a well-orchestrated TV spectacle, we wouldn't have had two factions in the AIADMK.
In the mythological epic, we also had Arjuna, the strongest amongst the Pandavas. The epic showed him as a man with unwavering focus, and complete awareness of his strengths. Who better than V Maithreyan in the OPS clan to essay the role of Arjuna? A man with the MP seat and considered to be a strong negotiator as well? Maithreyan is the one who is currently functioning like the channel between the Centre and OPS.
Bhima was the most powerful among the Pandavas as far as brute strength was considered. He was believed to be a very short-tempered, but loyal and caring man. Enemies would have to face Bhima first, before they could cast an evil eye on any other Pandava. The best man to don this role is KP Munusamy.
Munusamy was one of the firsts to join the OPS camp and he is also the most vocal when it comes to condemning someone. As the merger talks began, he addressed a press conference at the residence of OPS. Lashing out at Jayakumar of the EPS camp (chief minister Edappadi Palanisami), Munusamy said, "We want a CBI inquiry into J Jayalalithaa's death. No demands have been placed before the other faction, except that of Sasikala family ouster and Jayalalithaa death inquiry. Our demand is not for the post of CM for OPS. Our demand is CBI inquiry, the state government should recommend for it."
Last among the Pandava brothers were Nakula and Sahadeva, the twins who were smart and agile. The two politicians who easily fit the bill for the two characters are PH Pandian and Manoj Pandian (not twins, but a father-son duo). They were among the first ones to join the OPS camp and also to demand investigation into Jayalalithaa's death. Team OPS has witnessed how these two have made their camp lively and strong. PH Pandian is a very senior leader and his support to OPS made a huge difference to the camp in the initial days.
But without their dear mother, Kunti, the Pandavas were nothing. Kunti, a strong woman in the Pandavas' life, ensured that her wards were well-protected. She tried to keep them away from all hardships and when they suffered, she suffered with them. She was a self-made, independent, strong woman, who was actively involved in the state's affairs.
The new-age Kunti could be the late former chief minister of the state, J Jayalalithaa, who has striking similarities to the character. The lady with the iron fist, who ensured the AIADMK, remained united under her wings.
Who then could essay the roles of the Kaurava brothers? The cousin brothers of the strong Pandavas, who equally tried to establish their might? Team EPS, like the Kauravas, are 100 in number (in fact, a little over 100, precisely 122). Already the members of this faction with the beginning of the merger have said, "We are like two brothers who were separated by a bad fight and we will soon be together the talks have already begun."
As the talks have begun, one should not forget the first person who wanted to initiate talks between the two clans, and decided to stay with the "Pandavas", our very own "Krishna", will be Mafoi Pandiarajan.
The man who was with the EPS faction had decided to initiate talks for peace between the two sides and decided to move to the OPS side while leaving all his faithful men with the EPS faction. Like Krishna, Mafoi too has been the silent adviser to the Pandavas and has been driving the faction forward.
The eldest of the lot, the most revered and the man who is called the Pitamah of the two groups was Bhishma. And in Tamil Nadu politics, the person who qualifies for that role is perhaps none other than E Madhusudanan, the presidium chairman of AIADMK.
In fact, the first thing OPS, after his 40-minute meditation at Marina in February, revealed was that Jayalalithaa wanted Madhusudanan to lead the party and not Sasikala.
But the two persons who are believed to be blinded by power are AIDMK general secretary (whose post might become null and void) Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran. The two always remained in the shadow of Jayalalithaa, but after her demise they were publicly perceived to be blinded by their quest for power. Their closeness with the EPS camp and their figurative blindness makes the two the Dhritharashtra and Gandhari of the modern-day Mahabharata in Tamil Nadu.
All along, the silent spectator, and in certain instances the instigator in the Mahabharata battle, was the prince of Gandhar — Shakuni — the man who wanted the downfall of the Kuru Kingdom as a revenge for the injustice done to his sister and the kingdom of Gandhar. This is where the DMK enters. While remaining in the Opposition, responsible to ensure that the government is on right track, it is badly hoping for a mid-term elections.
Time and again we have seen the DMK saying, "It is the party's internal clash and we are not going to interfere in it, but we want a stable government, if they can't do those please resign and we can have mid-term elections."
While the Pandavas and Kauravas always figured prominently among the siblings, the one who never got his due credit of being the son of Kunti was Karna. The man who was abandoned by his mother, the son of Sun god and the most powerful warrior among the brothers in the true sense, the man who had always been in the heart of Kunti and the one regret she always had.
Do we have anyone who even remotely resembles Karna?
Well, Jayalalithaa always used to say, "I am by the people, for the people." Although she maintained that till her last breath, it's the "people" who have been left in the lurch after her death. But the great war in Bharat would not have taken place if not for this person, if she hadn't laughed at Dhuryodhana hurting his ego, if Dhushasana hadn't disrobed her, if her husbands hadn't lost her in a gamble, and if Panchali hadn't vowed to bring the destruction of the Kauravas, the Indian epic of Mahabharata would have never seen the light of day.
The greed for power and the political ambitions that were on display in the Mahabharata, are exactly the same emotions with which the present-day politicians work. The personification of all that greed for power and political ambitions is the lead character of our drama — Draupadi.
If these characters are not enough, we still have a generation of leaders and parties preparing themselves to take a plunge into the vast sea of politics and thus the epic on the political fight for power, greed and revenge will continue to be written.
The characters may not bear the same names, but will keep emerging. And every time they do, there will be comparisons like this.
Till then, "Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma Phaleshou Kada Chana, Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani (You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.)"