Ananth plays aam aadmi to defeat crorepati

BANGALORE: Vehicles screeched to a halt, people rushed, some associates guarding the road... 'Chanda' (beauty), film and TV serial director B Suresha's residence in Padmanabhanagar, a BJP stronghold, was agog with anticipation.
"Hello, Mr Nayak," Suresha greets a senior citizen and informs him about H N Ananth Kumar, BJP's Bangalore South candidate and sitting MLA R Ashoka's expected visit to his house.
"Oh, we've sent him (Ananth) to the Parliament five times. It doesn't matter if he comes to my house or not, I'll vote for the BJP. I was an RSS worker as a kid?" Nayak says and walks away.
Suresha tells the TOI he is a communist but quickly adds that he supports Ananth as he and Ashoka have supported television actors, directors and other artistes. "Especially during the dubbing issue, Ananth spoke in our favour."
Ashoka arrives first and looks for breakfast. Twenty minutes later, Ananth reaches the house at 10.40am, an hour behind schedule. "...If Modi comes to power, there will be no dubbing as it kills creativity," Ananth assures the TV artistes.
"Not bad, he even knows which movie we've made and what serials we act in," Advait, one of Suresha's associates, mumbles at the end of Ananth's greetings, repeatedly adjusting the saffron cloth around his neck.
Ananth's nervousness is quite apparent, in contrast to a TV earlier this year when there seemed "no threat in Bangalore South".
"Today is dedicated to celebrities," Ravishankar, Ananth's campaign manager, says, as the team readies to leave the house. "There's a crorepati (Nandan Nilekani) contesting against me, I need your blessings," Ananth pleads with the crowd of young people. The team leaves for another celeb, actor Devaraj's house, and then actor-director T N Seetharam's house.
Devaraj is overwhelmingly with Ananth and even gets his actor-son Prajwal to assure them support. Seetharam says: "I'm not with any political party. Ananth is a friend and I wish him well."
Ananth reminds people he is a 'normal man' and he's fighting a man worth crores of rupees. His team keeps telling people about his role in bringing the international airport to Bangalore and the Metro Rail to Banashankari.
Punctuating the visits to houses of celebs are visits to homes of two RWA chiefs. "When Vajpayeeji was Prime Minister, it was with the support of 23 political parties, many things were difficult. Help us ensure a clear majority for Modi and I'll bring in Rs 10,000 crore for the development of Bangalore," he says at both places.
Breaking some traffic rules, the team heads to theatre personality Master Hirannaiah's house, an RSS man and veteran actor and playwright. He says: "I'm tired of seeing the head-nodding Channapatna doll (Manmohan Singh). The country is looking for a change in the system, and I hope the BJP will make that possible."
Ananth sprinkles his words with wit and tact. No one though reminds the BJP candidate that has himself sworn under oath that he has Rs 51 lakh worth assets and his wife Rs 3.8 crore.
The team visits director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar and popular singer Shimoga Subbanna, who assure Ananth of their support. Subbanna says, "Ananth is a friend, but I don't trust BJP because I believe India has a composite culture that has seen people like Shishunala Sharief and Kabir."
Much of Padmanabhanagar has loads of BJP loyalists, greeting campaigners, and assuring them of votes even before they're sought. Yet, Ananth whispers to an aide as he gets into the car: "Hope all these (celebs) people talk to their friends and vote for us."