Bengaluru: If a popular film screening is the best way to make your way to voters’ hearts, why not do it? This is what some legislators, particularly in the border districts abutting Tamil Nadu, are doing at a time when the nation waits with bated breath for the release of the Rajnikanth superstarrer, Kabali, on July 22.
Cricket match tickets for their supporters is passé, the new trend is to book cinema halls to entertain film buffs. For instance, a city-based Congress MLA, Munirathna Naidu, has booked Kabali tickets in four cinema halls!
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Naidu conceded that he was already in talks with four cinema halls to ensure that his supporters get to watch the movie freely.
“In my constituency, there are a lot many Rajni fans- youngsters who crave to watch him on the first day of the movie release. I am planning to give them a surprise by booking four cinema halls in Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency, where this movie will be released,” Mr Naidu added.
Bengaluru development minister, K.J. George who represents another city constituency, Bhartinagar, told this newspaper that there was no need for him to conduct such shows as there was a probability of voters forgetting such favors when elections are held two years later. “It might fetch votes, it may not but this is not the right time for me to invest in luring voters,” he said.
However, several leaders in the Congress, JD(S) and BJP on the condition of anonymity conceded that this trend had begun as a plank to woo Tamil voters from the days Rajni’s all time hit, Basha, was released.
“Now it has become a habit of sorts for several Tamil voter dominated constituencies in and around Bengaluru to host such events. Most of the time, the local MLA tacitly lends support to host such events, unlike Mr Naidu who is vocal about it. The MLAs get their supporters such as corporators or ZP members to host such events, as this provide them an opportunity to become close with young voters. This is not only applicable to Rajini films, it has happened even in the case of Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan and several such star who are valued for their fan base,” the source added.
