New Delhi: This week on CNN-News18’s Off-Centre, popular Tamil writer and journalist Vaasanthi evaluates the life and times of J Jayalalithaa. Vaasanthi’s biography ‘Amma – Jayalalithaa’s Journey from Movie Star to Political Queen’ is a bestseller. In a candid conversation with Anuradha SenGupta, Vaasanthi says that the rest of India will view Jayalalithaa as a very powerful, dynamic and determined leader who was never a good ally to national parties.
Vaasanthi adds that Jayalalitha’s character was fascinating. According to her, “People think that she entered politics very reluctantly, but then she was a born politician. She knew exactly what her next move would be, how she would behave, how she would treat her opponents, rivals, allies, she knew. That was amazing.”
Vaasanthi also talks about the unique nature of Tamil politics and the people’s outlook that let an actor who is a Brahmin become the head of an organisation which had its roots in a movement which was anti-Brahmin. She added that people accepted Jayalalitha and also her mentor MGR who was a Malayali.
CNN-News18’s Off Centre will be aired on this Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 12:30 PM & 9:30 PM.
