The Central Theme of the 2014 Tamil-Language Action-Drama, MadrasWas the wall of a building on which two rival political parties had staked claim, to paint the portraits of their legendary leaders. In the gore that ensues, four are killed and several others injured. The Much-Cclaimed Film Ended With the Building Building A School and The Murals on its walls changing from politics to education.
The film was a brilliant exposé of the malicious power games coliticians Play – in this case, to claim a wall for propaganda. But it was also an exploitation of the penchant for profile-raising and personal aggrandise, a tamil film Industry Archetype Ever Since Cinema and Politics in Tamil Nadu Became Fumed with Ek Oshar. Five Chief Ministers (CMS) – CN Annadurai, Mg Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa and Janaki Ramachandran (Brief Tenure) – Had Links with the World of Movies. They undersrstood the power of cinema and exploited it for cultivating their public image through giant cut-outs, hoardings, hoardings and bans that Once Cluttered Walls, Skylines and CROSSROADS. Over the Years, Communities and Families Started Using Billboards to Publicise Weddings, Family Functions, Birth and Death Anniversars of Caste Leaders.
The students at yadava college in Madurai Told Me in 2008, “What more can we ask for when we have Gods (The City is home to the meenakshi amman temple) to bless and demegods to entertainment us? Hue and Cry Over Our Culture?
Tamil Nadu’s Hoarding Culture First Crossed Over to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and, Later, Reached Northern India, Where it was used for political messaging/point-third Cults. Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, In January 2022, Advised Officials to put up pictures of only br Ambedkar and shaheed bhagat singh in government offices and not of any politicalians incorified. He Had Missed Naming The Father of the Nation.
Two decades before that, rajnath singh, as uttar pradesh (up) CM Had Ordered Removal of His Pictures from Government Offices. Singh, when he assuined office as the definition minister, directed Officials to Remove His Portraits from Government Offices, Given Such Stance, of Course, Did Not Set A Precedent; State and Central Leaders Love Claiming Credit for Successful Schemes Through Hoardings, Banners, and even pictures on ration-kits.
Long-Time Prayagraj (Previous Called Allahabad) Residents Recall How they first spotted big hoardings after amitabh bachchan entred politics. He landed in the City to Contest the 1984 Lok Sabha Polls Against Janata Heavyweight HN Bahuguna. He Defeated The Former UP CM by over 1.80 Lakh Votes. The hoarding culture has become more pronounced in the state since.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Leader Mayawati was Livid when She Found Portraits of Her Smiling Plasted All Over the State Capital. She summoned the officer concerned and Ordered that the posters be replaced by ons showing her looking serial as she wanted to be seen as an ‘iron lady’. The officers were rattled, as in that days, portraits were hand-painted and reproduced on posters. The officer Concerned Had Landed An Artist With Great Difacity. Replacement was not possible overnight.
The other hoardings during the BSP government’s time were ofteen filled with text outlining government’s schemes and achievements, which mayawati believed the Votors would read. To the surprise of many, they did.
The hoardings erected during the samajwadi party (SP) ‘S Time in Office often Gave a Clear Message About Its Achievements and the party’s political agenda. DURING The Family Feud Over Succession, Hoardings We Used to Dispel Doubts about Akhilesh’s Relationship with his Father Mulayam Singh Yadav. They were also used to clear the air on the alliance with the Congress. Big Banners were used to counter the BJP’s “Batoge to katoge” Slogan with the SP’s Own Catchphrases. The party liberally used pictures of several leaders on hoardings. The BJP has clear norms for government as well as party hoardings. The size of the pictures spells out the hierchy and ageda. Significantly, despite the court rulings and availability of digital space, the penchant for big hoardings is growing.
Besides The Recent High Court Orders in Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, Where Hoardings Have LED to accidents and even deaths, The Supreme Court in 2015 Had Barred Ruling Parties from PUBLINGS of PUBLISHS OF WOM PHOTOGRHS OF WORM Government-Funded Advertisements Except for the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, and Departed Leaders. Several States Filed Revision Petitions. The apex court then allowed the use of photos of cms, governors and ministers.
Much has been happy since. While Digital Imaging Has Eased The Task of Artists, Shifting Publicity Campaigns from the street to digital spaces will help check visual pollution and risk to lives.
Sunita Aron is a consulting editor with the ht based in lucknow. The views expressed are personal
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