From left: Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, chairman and managing director of ITL and Eram Group, Tamil actor and MLA (Tenkasi) R. Sarath Kumar Panakkad Sayed, Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal; Dr. Salman Al-Sudairi and Prince Turki Bin Abdullah Al Faisal. — Courtesy photo L. Ramnarayan Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Famed Tamil actor R. Sarath Kumar, the current Member of Legislative Assembly of Tenkasi constituency, brings versatility into whatever he does. It is this quality that has made him the quintessential actor with an enduring fan base not only in the southern state of Tamil Nadu and Tamilians worldwide, but also in other southern states of India. It is no wonder that he is carrying this inherent quality in his new role as a deputy in the Tamil Nadu government assembly while representing his constituency. On the two subjects he spoke to Saudi Gazette — youth and the growing fight against graft — he was emphatic that “change has to come from you.” “Today the change you bring to just 20 people in a village, could be the ripple effect that is needed. These 20 will further influence others and from there the whole country. But it has to begin with us. There is no use pointing fingers at others. First turn the finger toward you and spark the change… “Our (Indian) youth are knowledgeable and motivated. But at the same time they are frustrated with what they see or what they cannot achieve… But they need to participate wholeheartedly in the system. It is only then they can make a difference,” Kumar said on the role Indian youth can play in nation building. Kumar floated his party All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in August 2007 with the aim of instilling a sense of ‘real citizenship' — a concept that inspires every citizen to act. It is not the exclusive prerogative of a celeb or a politician to do good and focus on social progress, it is necessary for everybody to pitch in, he said. “The society, in total, should act and help. Each citizen has to participate in the system, however ordinary or corrupt. It is only when every individual acts then the system will work for the people,” Kumar said. “Our system is democratic…it is a basic system in which there are no victors or losers. But it needs all to work at it to make it successful.” On the rooted corruption and the emergence of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal on the Indian political horizon as the champions of anti-corruption, Kumar was circumspect in his assessment of their contribution. “Everybody knows that there is corruption in the Indian system. But it is not the politicians who are corrupt, but other people are too,” he said, adding, “Politicians are there for limited terms, but others in the system are entrenched for years.” “But change is needed, and it is only people who can bring about this change. Corruption can be rooted out with youth getting, or at least attempting, to get involved in the system and addressing various social issues of the country.” In addition, the country as a whole, has to see more good governance than politics, Kumar said while stressing that this was the path toward progress. Kumar's versatility is seen in his humanitarian action recently when a leading Indian television network called for the donation of blankets for those suffering the bitter cold in New Delhi. When asked about this philanthropic effort, he said: “I have been doing this from my school days. It is just a touch of humanity from my side. The response to my call was good, even though blankets were at a premium in Tamil Nadu, which has an equatorial climate. But people from Malaysia and Singapore responded.” When coaxed into another example of his humanitarian effort, Kumar smilingly said: “We film people did a show for the Kargil vets, and we managed to collect about Rs 22 million for them.” Kumar is a multi-tasker and revels in the various roles he plays. While serving the people and his constituency, he continues to don many hats in the film world. He was elected as president of the South Indian Film Artistes Association for the third consecutive term. As an actor he has won accolades for his performances and he is the recipient of three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Film Fare Awards South. Ironically, many of his roles in the 130 odd films he has acted in generally revolve around the themes of cleansing the society's ills as well as social mores. That's why, he has come out against the protest calling for the stoppage of the Kundakulam power (nuclear) project in his home state Tamil Nadu. “I personally appealed to the people in public meetings to call of the protest. The project is at an advanced stage, and experts, including former President Abdul Kalam, have asserted to the safety of the N-project. We have to look at the larger picture. Tamil Nadu is currently facing a power crunch, and this project would help in easing that,” he said. “Especially since the state Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has requested the center for a major stake in the power share, and this could go a long way in developing the state.” But the question whether India needs to go for nuclear power is still debatable. “We have to study the pros and cons of this energy before thinking of it as an alternative source for the country,” he said. When asked whether he is the brand ambassador of ITL Travels as he has been promoting this brand, he just said: “You could call it that, but I just go wherever my friend Sided Ahmed (CMD of Eram Group) takes me.” “But I see Indians working hard for their family,” he said, adding, “I would only say this to them that follow the laws of the land, make your fortune, and it would be really nice if you decide to come back and invest your knowledge and talent in developing India.”
