Vishnu Manchu has decided that he has had enough of action comedies. Which is why he will now be seen in the Tamil-Telugu bilingual political thriller, Kural 388 (called Voter in Telugu). The first-look posters of the film has already made the film a talking point because a few versions of the poster had the faces of many well-known politicians of our country, including that of PM Narendra Modi and Atal Behari Vajpayee in the background.
“It’s a straightforward movie, we’re naming a few real-time politicians in it, and are prepared,” begins Manchu, in his slightly accented English.
Prepared? “We had expected this response (to the posters) in both the states mainly because I know that with the current political scenario being what it is, none of my contemporaries would pick a subject at the moment, where they can point out what’s ailing the states’ politics and call out real-life politicians to take action,” reveals Manchu.
Then why did he? “In the last five years, I have done only action comedies, and successful ones. I started thinking I don’t want to be stuck in a loop. I mean action comedy I can do even when I am 70. At the moment, I wanted my career to be a curve that people talk about — my movies should be those that people should want to see again, remember me for,” comes the answer.
So, he decided to do a movie that had every kind of politician in it? He laughs, “Not that, but in Thirukkural, there is one line, that loosely translates to ‘A leader who works towards the welfare of the people is equal to God’, in English. Today, this is a lost concept. Is there anyone who thinks like that? Let’s say, 75 per cent of both, the people and the politicians are lost to that concept. Why should the people always have to take a step back and accommodate everything from corruption to lethargy in politics? Why do we suck up to the politicians? Why don’t they have to run after us instead? These are some of the questions that I keep asking myself even otherwise.”
He continues, “And all of a sudden, especially in Tamil Nadu, the prevailing political situation has turned to be right up the alley for my movie.”
And I also know that as the trailers keep coming, many people are going to rip me apart. I have spoken without a mask, and have taken names. But while I know I can handle things here in the Telugu-speaking states, I am keen I make the right impact in Tamil Nadu, for Kural 388 is my baby — I want to see how the people of TN react to this movie.”
So, let’s hear from Manchu, what ails our political system? “In one word, accountability,” comes the succinct reply. “If I have a personal problem, whom do I go and ask? If the corporator wins an election, he takes out a rally — why? If I need to meet an MLA, I need to like, take permission for a ‘darshan’ — why can’t I just knock on his office door and walk in? Why should only the privileged be allowed to meet him when it is the aam janta that votes for him?”
