Mumbai, Aug 24 (TOI): Maharashtra's netas seem all set to skim off a big chunk of the movie magic to humour their vote bank in the state. Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra rural development minister Pankaja Munde are the latest to join the filmi brigade.
It all began in Latur recently. Addressing a public meeting to mark Vilasrao Deshmukh's death anniversary, Pankaja heaped praise on Pawar who was in the chair and likened him to veteran actor Dilip Kumar.
Just as the thespian is held in esteem for his exceptional histrionic abilities and his breathtaking range as actor, Pawar too evokes adulation, cutting across party lines, in the country's public life, said Pankaja, drawing prolonged applause from the gathering, a mix of political karyakartas, activists and admirers of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh. Pankaja's compliment to Pawar surprised many in political circles as NCP legislators had made matters difficult for the former, who is involved in the chikki procurement controversy, in the state assembly. In his speech, Pawar promptly returned the minister's compliment by likening her to cinema czarina Deepika Padukone. Stating that he wasn't aware of the latest generation of actors, Pawar said he asked actor Riteish Deshmukh, the late Vilasrao's son, who was present at the function, to throw up names of some heroines in Hindi film industry. Those close to Pawar claim that the NCP warhorse was once an ardent admirer of Hindi cinema and numbers composed by S D Burman and Madan Mohan.
"Pawarsaab has a deep regard for Dilip Kumarsaab. He loves his blockbusters such as 'Devdas' and 'Mughul-e-Azam'. Pawar enjoys excellent equations with Dilip Kumar and his wife, Saira Banu," said one of leader's close aides. Incidentally, the late Vilasrao too was a staunch film buff. "While Vilasraoji was in Pune to study law, he had set his heart on joining FTII. He took up politics, but his heart throbbed for cinema," said a close friend. Pawar had hosted a felicitation in Mumbai for the Dilip Kumar when he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke award. Pawar has equally good ties with legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosale. "However, Pawarsaab never mixed politics with his passion for Hindi or Marathi cinema. It is, perhaps, for the first time that he referred to Hindi cinema in a public rally," said the NCP chief's aide.
This should be attributed to the fast-mutating character of India's voting population, said analysts. "With young voters asserting themselves in the fields of IT, media and start-ups, politicians feel it necessary to flaunt their connections with the film industry. The young generation is devoted to cinema and they abhor politics for obvious reasons," said Marathi actor Shekhar Navare.