Suresh Gopi- Kerala’s Own Saffron Superstar

By MR Lalu

The South Indian movie industry except the Malayalam industry in Kerala is known for its big stars taking plunge in politics. Many had managed to become Chief Ministers. From the most popular MG Ramachandran, widely known as MGR to Jayalalitha to Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, all of them managed to etch their names in the list of great Chief Ministers. Superstar Rajanikant missed it, even though he began his stint in politics with his own party Makkal Mandram. Disgruntlement among the populace and being skeptical about the prospects in politics, the people’s star disbanded his party. He cited ill-health as the reason. Kamal Haasan was the next superstar who tried his debut in politics floating his party Makkal Needhi Maiam. Though he is still active in Tamil Nadu Politics his party decided to opt out of the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. He campaigned for the DMK led alliance putting his fans and party members in a serious dilemma. Chiranjeevi was another popular star obviously from the Telugu industry, whose Praja Rajyam Party made its maiden election victory from Tirupati Assembly seat in 2009. Year 2012 saw him as the Minister of State for Tourism in the Manmohan Singh led UPA government.

When many of the superstars had their successful stint in politics in South India, the Malayalam film industry maintained its distinction. No big names with superstardom from the industry did dare to give it a try until recently. The political ambiance in the state was totally disrespectful to actors planning to make their political plunge. The perceived belief in the state was that actors from the film industry can’t seriously contribute to the spectrum of politics like any seasoned politician. This remained a prominent view for decades in the state except for a few mediocre actors trying their space in politics and winning in the state elections. But for the parliament, nobody from the superstar repute tried. Popular comedian Innocent was an exception. But he did not enjoy the stardom of Mohanlal, Mammootti and Suresh Gopi. Superstar Suresh Gopi made the most unlikely political pitch in Kerala by joining the BJP. Nobody from the film world in Kerala would have appreciated his move. But the action star, well known for his police roles, had chosen the saffron umbrella and his critics put him through unethical prosecution in mainstream media and social media ever since he made his view public. His victory in Thrissur, the constituency Mr Gopi emotionally nurtured since his debacle in 2019, has overturned the perennial assumptions of holding the BJP a political pariah.

Suresh Gopi’s entry into politics had evoked mixed emotions among his supporters who adored him as the best action hero. The Malayalam action thriller Commissioner had given his movie fans breathtaking moments of heroism. Suresh Gopi, who played the City Police Commissioner, an angry young officer committed to book the brutes and the corrupt, is seen taking on the Union Minister in public. The dialogues from the movie scenes still give hair-raising moments. Gopi’s acceptance as a Good Samaritan among the general public has also been a contributing factor in his victory. He could, this time, cut across caste and religious barriers and mostly it is viewed that along with his popular support base in Thrissur, a tectonic shift in voting among the Christian community in the area got him elected. Voters in the constituency adore him to be one among the best human beings, who stand with the poor.

More than three decades of his acting career had got him a tremendous fan base across the state. Beyond that, he could successfully connect his persona with the social sensibilities of the common men.   Outside his party that he represents, what he gained was from the common voter, especially women. This victory in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, where he was put to dust in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, gives him a historic moment for two reasons. First, he represents the BJP, the party that the state of Kerala kept at a distance as an untouchable for decades and second, he was destined to give his party its first, credible and resounding victory with a margin of 74686 votes. The Saffron Star, as you may call him, is the first popular actor who dared to declare his allegiance with the BJP in the state of Kerala. As the minister for tourism he is expected to do well for the state that enjoys tremendous tourism potential. The BJP made him a Rajya Sabha MP in 2016. Its decision did pay off today.

His messiah of the poor image had given him significant backing. Not only as an actor and politician but he is known for his sizable humanitarian initiatives as well. There are numerous beneficiaries of his acts of kindness. These initiatives include his personal help to the needy irrespective of their caste and religion and political affiliation. Prayers for the actor’s victory had been resonating from all over the state. But pundits hold an ideal reservation on the new minister’s personal character. Being straightforward and new to the tactics of playing power politics to its tricky, quirky and sometimes murky realms, they feel, he needs to be careful as he has to ride through the slushy moors of it. Suresh Gopi’s box-office superstardom is not enough to get him ride through the terrains of politics; it needs a different rhythm and composure. Moreover, what they say, he needs to develop a strategy to pull the party mechanism out of its present primitive mindset in the state. The growth of BJP in the state has gained its momentum. BJP’s jump in vote share from 11 to 16% in Kerala demands a new leadership that the next state election would identify in the debutant union minister, who the electorate began to sense, holds credible substance to lead the saffron party as its Chief Ministerial candidate.

 (Author is freelance journalist and social worker based in Kerala. The views expressed are personal opinion of the author.)