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The Rediff Interview/Tadiparthi Sarada

'The repercussions would have been grave if prohibition continued'

Just out of school. And bitten by the theatre bug. Several roles later, her talent knocked at the door of character actor Nagabhushanam. He was about to finalise the cast for his Rakta Kaneeruand Tadiparthi Sarada seemed tailor-made for the role....

The play was a hit, and Sarada soon graduated to films, making her debut in Iddaru Mithrulu in the 1960s. But her tottering steps landed at a celluloid deadend. The arclights dimmed. The camera stopped whirring. The producers slammed their door shut on her.

Then came a call from Kerala. She became 'Urvasi' Sarada -- twice a national award-winner.

''It so happened that the Malayalam film industry recognised my talent first,'' she says. ''But nobody in the Telugu industry should be blamed.''

She then teamed her up with Shoban Babu, and the hit pair set the Telugu box-office on fire with films like Sarada. She dazzled on opposite superstars like Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswar Rao.

The 1980s brought her character roles. And the 1990s, politics.

Winning the Tenali Lok Sabha seat in 1996, Sarada turned her brother's modest house in the town into her temporary home.

With her glamour, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's 'good work' and the caste card -- she belongs to the Padmashali (weavers) caste which has a sizeable presence in the area -- the Telugu Desam Party nominee thought she would romp home again in this election, despite a formidable rival like P Shiv Shankar of the Congress.

She discarded her make-up, donned a TDP cap and toured high and low to reconquer Tenali. The hectic campaign showed on her health, but Sarada defied her doctor to speak to J S Sai.

Sarada was sure of sweeping the poll against a rank outsider -- Shiv Shankar hails from Telangana. But little did she realise that the voters were playing their cards close to their chest. How crestfallen she would be is indicated in this interview, conducted on the day Tenali sealed her fate in the ballot box.

After a 35-year-old celluloid career, why did you take the political plunge?

I have always wanted to do something for women who have encouraged me during my film career... Even NTR invited me to join the TDP. But I did not have the courage. After Chandrababu Naidu took over as chief minister, I began observing his style of functioning. I like his style and his policies.

So you did not like NTR's?

Not that I did not like his style. But I did not have the courage. I have always liked the party. It is NTR's policies that we are still following.

You said you are in politics to ensure that women get a better deal. If so, why did you not oppose the lifting of prohibition in the state in January 1997?

People have been drinking like fish even when there was prohibition. Other states were not co-operating. Truckloads of liquor was descending on the state, and the liquor mafia was becoming stronger. The repercussions would have been grave if prohibition continued.

Moreover, women were complaining that their husbands were blowing up all their income on liquor, as it had become very expensive.

But, is it not true that the people still want prohibition?

If that is so, it will be implemented again, provided the people co-operate. Prohibition always enjoyed the people's support. But what we need is their co-operation. They never co-operated. Otherwise, Naidugaru would not have lifted it. He has great regard for women.

People complain that Naidu hiked the prices of essential commodities, stating that prohibition had left the state exchequer empty.

Prices of onions have gone up all over the country...

Did he not hike the power tariff, price of subsidised rice? People say they would like to have prohibition without such burdens. Why did your government take these anti-people measures?

It was not an anti-people measure. Besides the revenue loss, the state was spending huge amounts of money to strengthen the excise and the police departments for the effective implementation of prohibition. But nobody was co-operating.

How can you blame the people when several TDP leaders have been accused of bootlegging?

I agree. But other party leaders are also involved. It is difficult to stop such things. Naidu had pulled up such leaders. But who is heeding his advice?

If he was serious about making prohibition a success, why did he kill the official committee -- entrusted with the task of educating the people about the ills of drinking -- by starving it of funds?

That is humbug. A lot of money was spent to make prohibition a success....

No matter what anyone says, the fact remains that the state has never had a chief minister like him! Those who have the people's interest in their mind will support him.

All parties had agreed that women should get one-third reservation in Parliament and state legislatures. But most parties backed out when it came to passing a bill to that effect in Parliament.

We have given more seats to women than the Congress.

But you have not given one-third of the seats...

It is a question of votes. What is the use of fielding an unknown face, and losing the election? We are slowly implementing this from the grassroot level. And we have a better track record than all other parties.

But several United Front bigwigs, including Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav, have opposed the proposal tooth and nail.

I am talking only about the Telugu Desam.

Is it true that Naidu wanted you -- and not Renuka Choudhary -- to be a minister in the Inder Kumar Gujral ministry?

I was in Norway at that time. I heard of the developments after my return. People keep saying all kinds of things.

Are there serious differences between Renuka and Naidu?

Nothing. They get along very well. People make mountains out of molehills.

There is criticism that Naidu has little time for the state because of UF politics.

He is the UF convener. How can he just stick to the state? The state has benefited because of this. No other chief minister could bring in so much of central funds.

It is alleged that you have done little for Tenali.

( Exclaims) Ramachandra! Somebody is spreading lies! I was one of the few MPs who has done a lot of work!

Like what?

I have ensured that the inter-city express between Secunderabad and Guntur is extended to Tenali. That is no small thing....

Who is this great soul who has said that I have done nothing? ( laughs)

Cinema stars hit the political arena, flicker for a while and then disappear -- like your colleagues Krishna and Jamuna. Why?

A lot depends on the individual, and nothing to do with films.

Does the bitter experience of these stars indicate that mere glamour does not work?

Mere glamour will get them nowhere! You have to be with the people, and do some good work!

Is it not sad that truckloads of people have to be brought to the rallies of film stars, including ones like Vijayshanti?

I have no such experience ( laughs). Wherever I go, the crowds wait for me! I feel sad that I am unable to devote enough time for them!

What do you think of caste politics?

I hate caste politics. No one bothers about such things in films. Why they should bother about it here?

The Rediff Interviews