When leaders become demi-gods: A history of hero-worshipping in Tamil Nadu

Hero worshipping is not uncommon in India. Politicians, cricketers, actors and religious heads are treated as demi-gods and goddesses, but in Tamil Nadu, leader worship reaches another level.

The mass frenzy, emotional outpouring and uncontrollable crowds are a symbol of the state's cult politics and the larger-than-life canvas of the state's political landscape. And the prominent faces on this landscape have been CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran, J Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi.

These four names had an unmatched stature with an unparalleled following in Tamil Nadu.

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Annadurai registered his name in history books as Tamil Nadu's first political stalwart. He was a school teacher, journalist and a script-writer before he founded the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK.

He was known for simplicity and concern for the poor.

Annadurai's speeches drew large crowds because he successfully challenged the ills of caste system and led an agitation against the imposition of Hindi as the official language of India.

He died of cancer in 1969 but his funeral had the highest attendance of any to that date, earning it a Guinness record. Reports say that 15 million people took to the streets of Chennai to pay their last respects.

Then began the era of MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR. He is the man who made cult worship the theme of Tamil Nadu politics.

MGR was the biggest name in Tamil film industry right until his death in 1987. By then, he had also helmed the state as chief minister four times.

Annadurai's demise made way for MGR - he became DMK treasurer but soon began to have differences with the party. What pinched him the most was the opposition he faced from the then chief minister M Karunanidhi who had been waging a war against MGR since 1972.

MGR protested, parted ways and founded another party, the AIADMK.

Incidentally, Karunanidhi had written the screenplay and dialogue for MGR's debut film 'Rajakumari' in 1947.

MGR's tenure as chief minister is remembered because of his welfare schemes such as mid-day meals, ban on liquor and women-centric welfare schemes.

He never lost an assembly election and those who know him say that he never depended on caste, religion or language to get votes.

MGR died in 1987 and his death sparked riots all over Tamil Nadu. Mobs targeted shops, cinemas, buses, public and private properties. The police had to issue shoot-at-sight orders.

Around 10 lakh people had participated in his last journey.

Before breathing his last, MGR had introduced another leader to Tamil Nadu politics - his protege J Jayalalithaa - in 1982. She carried forward MGR's legacy and served Tamil Nadu as chief minister six times.

The two shared a great chemistry on the silver screen. He mentored her and kickstarted her political career.

The frenzy for Jayalalithaa also made headlines - the critics called it her followers's sycophancy but Tamil Nadu did not care.

Popularly known as Amma, Jayalalithaa was a brand unto herself. The Amma canteens, Amma vegetable markets, Amma mineral water and proposed Amma theatres were a massive hit among the people of the state.

When she was arrested in 2014 on charges of corruption, many of her supporters committed suicide.

When she was battling for life in a hospital in 2016, crowds of people queued outside Apollo hospital, praying for her well-being. According to her party, 470 people died of shock when the news of her death was made official.

Tamil Nadu mourned for days and what followed was a chaotic power tussle in the state.