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The Rediff Interview/Latha

'I thought she would be different from other politicians.But she turned out to be the worst'

ntil last month,Lathastayed far away from politics. She shared a successful film career with MGR and Jayalalitha and continued in films long after their departure from the screen.

After Jayalalitha threw S Thirunavukkarasu out of the AIADMK in May, the MGR loyalists saw her as a prime catch for thwarting Jayalalitha. Lathajoined Thirunavakkarasu's party and has been on the covers of all the Tamil magazines since. After all, Tamil politicians and politics-watchers view Latha's entry into politics as an impending battle between MGR's two former heroines.

Though not very articulate, Latha spoke toShobha Warrier at length about her entry into politics and her plans torejuvenate the AIADMK, a party started by her celluloid mentor.

You had a dream debut, as the heroine in an MGR film. How didit happen?

I was still in school. R S Manohar, who was a villain in Tamilmovies, saw photographs of a dance performance of mine and showedthem to MGR who was in search of a new heroine then. They calledme, but my mother refused permission. Somehow she did notlike the idea of her daughter acting in movies. But Mr Manoharpersisted. He tried his best to persuade my mother. He even toldher, 'An opportunity like this will never come.' Which was indeedtrue. When others were longing to be MGR's heroine, withoutany effort, the opportunity fell into my lap. I wanted my motherto agree because I was very interested in acting.

Was films an ambition since you were a child? Or, was it because the offer was for an MGR film?

I had always been interested. I started learning dance as a child and dancing kindled my interest in movies.

Were you not scared to have such an ambition, because as you said,your mother did not like you acting in films?

No, I had this desire to dance and act. Myaunt, my mother's elder sister, was a heroine in Hindi movies,Kamala Kotnis. She had acted with people like Dev Anand and was the only person who encouraged me. With her support, I gathered courage and told my motherthat I wanted to act.

Was there any resistance from her?

Yes, initially. She did not want me to join films at all. Itried until she agreed. Finally, she had no choice but agree.

Did you realise then that you were going to be MGR's heroine?

Everything happened like a dream, very fast. Even before Icould realise that I was acting in a movie, that too oppositeMGR, I was abroad shooting for it. I was very shy andvery conscious of myself in those days. In the first two movies, I was extremely nervousto act with MGR.

But he was very helpful, teaching me and giving me the nuancesof acting, dialogue delivery, etc. He even gave me tips on dancing.He is my mentor, philosopher and guide.

How did he appear to you when you first met him?

He was very, very normal like any other human being. Only Iwas scared of him. I was so scared of him that he used to askme, 'Shall I change the hero so that you will be comfortable?Why are you so scared of me?'

How was your first day of shooting? Was it notUlakam SutrumValiban?

We first went to Singapore. Along with MGR, his wife Janakialso was there. She took good care of all of us, Chandrakala,Manjula, myself, etc. The shooting trip was more like an excursionto all of us. I was only fifteen years old then. Sincemyself and Manjula were of the same age, we had a lovely timeand enjoyed ourselves. We became good friends too.

Till you entered the scene, was it not Jayalalitha who wasMGR's heroine?

Yes, Jayalalitha was acting in a number of movies with himthen.

Did it occur to you then why he changed his heroine?

Why should I think about it? He might have needed a change.How do I know?

You never thought about all that?

No.... I was too young to understand all that.

Did you meet her in those days?

Once or twice, I think. At some functions, that's all.

How was she then? Was she friendly with you?

She was very cold. I also did not bother.

You were his heroine in his last movie, were you not?

I was his heroine in all his last movies. Even after he becamethe chief minister, he shot for a couple of movies and I wasthe heroine.

By then you also might have matured.

Yes, of course, I had grown up and also got many awards.

MGR was like a demi-god to many people. Do you remember howhis fans used to behave in front of him?

He was not a demi-god. He was like a god to people.They used to really worship him. But he was extremely kind toall of them, very helpful too. He treated all alike, it did notmake any difference to him whether they are stars or workers.

I still remember an incident. We were shooting in Ooty then andquite a few workers did not have sweaters and it was very cold.Immediately he bought sweaters for all of them, from his own money.He was very, very humane.

Were you interested in politics then? I have heard that youwere also a member of the AIADMK.

I was interested in politics. That was why I joined the party.In fact I was one of the founder members of the AIADMK.

Did MGR ask you to join the party?

He asked whether I'd like to join the party. I agreed. I did work for the partyduring the first two elections before it came to power. I travelled all over,gave dance performances and collected funds for the party. SometimesI even spoke on stage. But then he wanted me to take active partin politics. I couldn't do that because I was working in severalmovies.

Were you more interested in films than politics?

Yes, I couldn't concentrate on both. There were two optionsbefore me, give up movies and become an active member,or continue acting. At that stage of my career, I couldn't givemovies up because I loved acting and my heart was in movies. Myambition was to act in many more movies, give good performances.So, I declined then.

How did he respond? Was he angry or disappointed?

He took it in the right spirit and told me, 'Whenever you feellike taking active part in politics, you can come over.'

You continued being a member of the party.

Yes. But not an active member. I kept myself away from politicsso that I could concentrate on movies.

Was MGR disappointed because you preferred an acting careerto politics?

Of course, he was. He said, you are smart and intelligent,and such people should come into politics. In 1986, he asked meagain. In the meantime I had married and was living in Singapore.I came back to India when my mother passed away. MGR came to ourhouse when he came to know about her sad demise. He again askedme, 'Are you interested?' I was not free then because mychildren were very small. I didn't want to abandon them when theyneeded me most. I always feel whatever I do, I have to doit with sincerity. Now when people asked me...

How did it happen? All these years you were away not onlyfrom politics but also the limelight. Everyone was surprised to hearabout your entry into politics. Did Thirunavukkarasu ask you?

Yes, he did speak to me. He told me in detail about the plightof the party. I also knew what was happening to the party as Iwas very much here. The way she (Jayalalitha) behaved was verybad. And think of the amount of faith people had in her! Peoplereally expected her to do something good for the state and thecountry. But she spoiled everything.

Did you also expect her to perform well?

Yes, I did. I thought she would be different from other politicians.But she turned out to be the worst. She spoiled the party, sheruled the party according to her whims and fancies. In fact, shedestroyed the party. She kicked out all the MGR followers so thatthe party would be hers.

Did anyone approach you when she was the chief minister?

Yes, they did. But I couldn't take those offers then. Now whenthey approached me, when I was free, I thought it is the righttime to enter into active politics. I am not joining theparty when it is in power. I am joining the party when it is ina bad shape. Nobody will accuse me of coming into politics forpower.

For that matter, MGR would have given me any post or anyportfolio if I had asked him. But I was not interested in anypost or portfolio and I still am not interested. I just want towork for the party and build the party from its damaged position.The party is so disorganised now.

How will you be able to achieve that? You have no experiencein active politics.

You learn. And, all of us have to sit and work out a strategy.

How long did it take you to come to a decision?

One week.... ten days. I wanted to think whether I would beable to do justice or not. I didn't want to take a decision ina hurry and then just fade away. I thought for several days andfinally came to this decision.

Latha's photographs by Sriram Selvaraj.