Why Tamil movie heroes become politicians
Fan clubs can quickly become get-out-the-vote operations
Around christmas in 1987, 30 people in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu killed themselves. Some swallowed poison, others set themselves on fire. All were distraught at the death of their hero, M.G. Ramachandran, aged 70. “MGR” had been the state’s chief minister for a decade. To his acolytes, he was puratchi thalaivar, the revolutionary leader.
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This article appeared in the Christmas Specials section of the print edition under the headline “From star to power”
Christmas Specials December 23rd 2023
- On safari in South Sudan, one of the world’s most dangerous countries
- Many Trump supporters believe God has chosen him to rule
- Global warming is changing wine (not yet for the worse)
- How five Ukrainian cities are coping, despite Putin’s war
- A tale of penguins and prejudice is a parable of modern America
- What the journey of a pair of shoes reveals about capitalism
- A short history of tractors in English
- Millions of Chinese are venturing to the beach for the first time
From the December 23rd 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Christmas Specials
On safari in South Sudan, one of the world’s most dangerous countries
The planet’s biggest conservation project is in its least developed nation
Many Trump supporters believe God has chosen him to rule
The Economist tries to find out why
Wine and climate
Global warming is changing wine (not yet for the worse)
New vineyards are popping up in surprising places; old ones are enduring
How five Ukrainian cities are coping, despite Putin’s war
From ravers to rubbish collectors, residents tells their stories
A tale of penguins and prejudice is a parable of modern America
When two male penguins hatched an egg in Central Park, they set off an enduring controversy
What the journey of a pair of shoes reveals about capitalism
And how Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, is changing