With Karnataka going to polls on May 10, Kannada superstar Kiccha Sudeep will lend his star power to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. Amid speculation that he may have joined the party to get a ticket from the BJP, Sudeep clarified that he is supporting the current Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, whom he respectfully refers to as ‘mama’ (uncle).
“She is someone I love, and have immense affection and respect for. Bommai Mama stood by me in my difficult times,” said Sudeep while addressing the media along with the chief minister.
Read this also | Who is Kiccha Sudeep? BJP’s ‘Bahubali’ campaigner in Karnataka and obedient nephew of ‘Mama’ Bommai
This is not the first time that Sudeep has agreed to campaign for a candidate. In 2018, he participated in an election campaign for B Sriramulu in the Molakalmuru assembly constituency. The actor belongs to the Nayak caste among the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Karnataka. The Nayaks are concentrated in Chitradurga, Bellary and Raichur districts, and Sriramulu is considered one of the tallest leaders of the community.
Congress, JDS and BJP are trying to woo the actor, who is known to share cordial relations across party lines. Over the years, senior leaders of the BJP, Congress and JDS have extended open invitations to him to join them, which they believe will be a shot in the arm because of his immense popularity and caste matrix.
Likes, Threats and Hashtags
However, this time Sudeep has made his choice. He would campaign for Bommai, the BJP, and “whoever Bommai suggests they should campaign for.”
When people asked about their relationship, Bommai also intervened. “He has not joined any party. He is supporting me. I spoke to him and told him that even if he does not join the party, he should campaign for us. He agreed to it. Bommai said, he will campaign for the party with me.
As the news spread, the 49-year-old actor’s office received death threats. A first information report (FIR) was lodged at Puttanahalli police station in Bengaluru against an unknown person. Upset over his decision, some of his fans started a hashtag campaign on a microblogging site – #WedontwantKichchainpolitics. He requested them not to become victims and pawns in politics and keep giving them superhit films.
‘Ek Filmy Sitara’ is for you ‘Kang’ guys @rssurjewala ,@Kiccha Sudeep The pride of Karnataka – Kiccha entering the battle field has made ‘Kangis’ “Big cats of Karnataka Kurukshetra”. One last word for ‘SSS Nautankiwale’ – ‘The show has just started…the picture is yet to come’. https://t.co/1cgJ6JGq1S— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) April 5, 2023
‘old script’
Film industry experts following the developments say such a move by a popular cinestar is not a new thing. Film critic and senior journalist Muralidhar Khajane pointed out that there is an unwritten rule among actors in the Kannada industry to support a candidate and be a star campaigner, but not join a party.
“We have often seen political parties approach film stars to help campaign for their candidates. Many popular actors have campaigned exclusively for a candidate but refused to seek votes for a specific political party,” Khazane told News18.
Khazane cited the example of Geetha Shivarajkumar, daughter-in-law of Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar and daughter of former Karnataka Chief Minister Bangarappa. He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Shimoga constituency on a JDS ticket against senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa. Her husband Shivarajkumar actively campaigned for her in the constituency, even though the Rajkumar family kept a safe distance from politics.
“Shivrajkumar was campaigning for his wife. Like the Rajkumar family, Sudeep enjoys good relations with Darshan and all other political parties,” said the film critic.
Met DKS on 17th February
Sudeep’s meeting with Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on 17 February had fueled speculation in both political and film circles. Sudeep said that he knows DK Shivakumar, CM Bommai and minister DK Sudhakar and has good relations with all of them and the day he decides to enter politics, he will make it public.
“But I have not taken any decision regarding my political entry. When I take a decision, I will make it public.
actor mr @Kiccha Sudeep Met them. On this occasion we discussed the problems of Kannada film industry. I got his suggestions for the special manifesto that the Congress is preparing to solve the problems of the Kannada film industry. pic.twitter.com/gXio5ZDW4P— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) February 3, 2023
Asked about his rapport with politicians at a CNN-News18 Bengaluru townhall, the actor cryptically replied: “The first rule of politics is never discuss your opinion, don’t hint.”
Similar discussion was seen in 2018 when Vikrant Rona actor was seen coming out of the house of Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of JDS leader and former CM Kumaraswamy. JDS insiders had then confirmed to this reporter that Kumaraswamy had offered to field him from Chitradurga or Bellary on a JDS ticket, but the southern star politely declined.
The Congress had also eyed Sudeep as a possible candidate and had approached him several times over the years. This is the reason why Shivakumar’s meeting emphasized the possibility of his debut in electoral politics.
A film star is free to choose whom to support, whether by IT-ED or otherwise. In the bankruptcy of BJP #Karnataka is clear.
As no one turns up to listen to CM Bommai and the BJP leaders, they are now depending on film stars to draw crowds.
People will decide the fate of Karnataka, not film stars
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 5, 2023
Shows BJP’s desperation: Congress
Senior Karnataka Congress leader Priyank Kharge termed Sudeep’s decision as personal, but added that it reflected the desperation of the BJP and how they would use any power – money, muscle or star power – to win the upcoming elections.
Kharge told News18, “It seems that instead of showing good development to seek votes, the BJP is now bent on reaching out to the people with the power of film stars.”
Kharge said it is clear that the BJP high command has lost faith in CM Bommai along with BS Yediyurappa.
“Return to BSY count. The man who was insulted by the BJP is shaking hands with the PM like a long lost friend and all insults have been forgotten. The ministers and the political secretary say that things are not being managed well by Bommai. That’s why they are looking for any kind of power that can help their sinking ship.”
2 decade long career
One of the highest paid actors, Sudeep has acted in films in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil languages. He made his acting debut in 1997 with the film ‘Thayavva’. He has spent more than two decades in the industry. His first big break was a remake of the Tamil film ‘Vikram’, titled ‘Huchcha’ in Kannada.
He has also starred in movies like ‘Vaali’, ‘Kiccha’, ‘Shanti Niwas’, ‘Swathi Muthu’, ‘Ranga (SSLC)’, ‘Just Math Mathalli’, ‘Vishnuvardhan Kempe Gowda’, ‘Eega’, ‘Vikrant Rona’ and ‘Pailwan’. , Other.
debuted in Bollywood With Ram Gopal Varma’s Phoonk (2008). He went on to work with the legends of Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan And Salman Khan In Rann and Dabangg 3. His latest release was Kabzaa.
Greetings! @ajaydevgn Sir.. Why did I say that the context of the tat line is completely different from the way I think it reached you. There will probably be an emphasis on why the statement is made when I see you in person. It was not meant to hurt, provoke or start an argument. why me sir https://t.co/w1jIugFid6– Kiccha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) April 27, 2022
Kannada pride
His video teaching a journalist how to pronounce the word ‘Kannada’ won the hearts of the people of Karnataka.
Sudeep said, “Jaise Hindi, Hind nahi hota, waisi Kannada, Kannada nahi hota (Like Hindi, cannot become Hind, Kannada also cannot become Kannada)”.
His views on Hindi supremacy also hit headlines last year when he made a statement at a film festival that “Hindi is no longer the national language”. Hitting back at this, Ajay Devgan tweeted, “Hindi was and will remain our national language.”
Sudeep promptly replied to Devgan with a quip: “I understood the text you sent in Hindi. Tatts only because we all have respected, loved and learned Hindi. No offense sir, but Was wondering what would be the situation if my answer was typed in Kannada.!!
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