Anybody can talk about anything on the public platform but the way different media houses take it and interpret is always amusing.
We know how Rajnikanth's speech at NTR's Centenary event organized by Cahndrababu and NTR's family members went viral. Each media house has taken it differently. Let us see one by one.
Every media outlet has its own agenda and may take sides with a particular political party, resulting in selective criticism and promotion that aligns with their interests.
For example, Namaste Telangana is known for supporting KCR, while Andhra Jyothi and Eenadu are known to favor TDP. Sakshi is considered the media arm of YSRCP, while Prajasakti and Navatelangana tend to be on the side of the Communists.
Let us see how these dailies interpreted the recent Rajnikanth's speech at the NTR centenary event organized by Chandrababu and Nandamuri family.
During his speech, Rajnikanth mentioned KCR's name while praising Chandrababu Naidu's efforts in developing Hyderabad. Rajnikanth mentioned KCR's name only in passing, implying that he was doing good work. Rajnikanth also said that he was impressed by the city's development and that it reminded him of New York. Surprisingly, to this Chandrababu blushed as if Rajni was praising only him.
Namaste Telangana reported that Rajnikanth praised KCR's vision and Hyderabad's development, but did not mention the event that he attended.
Andhra Jyothi, on the other hand, did not mention KCR but reported that Rajnikanth praised Hyderabad's development under Chandrababu Naidu's leadership.
Sakshi reported that Rajnikanth called NTR a "yugapurushudu," but did not mention his comments about either KCR or Chandrababu Naidu.
Eenadu covered both Rajnikanth's comments about Chandrababu Naidu and NTR but did not mention KCR.
On the whole, each media outlet had its own interpretation of Rajnikanth's speech, while social media had a different perspective altogether.
Social media has brought in the last letter of Silk Smitha now. Silk Smitha was a renowned actress in the history of South Indian cinema, and her story has been adapted into a biopic called "Dirty Picture," starring Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah. Despite her death by suicide decades ago, a sudden letter began circulating on social media, in which she mentioned that she is feeling like a hell as someone betrayed her.
The Tamil community discussed the possibility that this individual was a famous actor who had attained considerable fame but committed the sin of abetting Smitha's suicide. Although she mentioned names like Ramu and Radhakrishnan in the letter, she did not name the person who promised her a better life but ultimately betrayed her. As a result, people began to point fingers towards a superstar. Even the film 'Dirty Picture' hinted something similar.
Social media is so powerful these days that anyone who speaks about politics with a biased view or selfish motives can easily become a target. The platform has the potential to bring out anything from a person's past and tarnish their reputation.
Apart from this Kodali Nani mentioned that Rajnikanth was the one who supported Chandrababu Naidu in the backstabbing of NTR in 1996, implying that he is part of the crime and so all criminals came together to pay respect to the one whom they assassinated. The picture releated to that is also in circulation now.
On the top of it, had Rajnikanth been unbiased, while talking about KCR he might have taken the name of YSR as well who developed Hyderabad by bringing in Outer Ring Road, Shamshabad Airport, BITS and IIT.
Thus Rajnikanth has become a topic of discussion, criticism and allegation with his political speech on the dais of NTR centenary in Vijayawada.
Usha Chowdhary