MUMBAI: On the upcoming episode of the show -- Off-Centre, the life and times of late Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa will be sicussed with the popular Tamil writer and journalist Vaasanthi. The episode will air on 17 December at 8 pm with a repeat on 18 December at 12:30 pm and 9:30 pm on CNN News18.
In a candid conversation with the host of the show, Anuradha SenGupta, Vaasanthi says that the rest of India will view Jayalalithaa as a very powerful, dynamic and determined leader who was never a good ally to national parties.
Vaasanthi’s biography -- "Amma – Jayalalithaa’s Journey from Movie Star to Political Queen" is a bestseller. Vaasanthi adds that Jayalalitha’s character was fascinating. According to her, “People think that she entered politics very reluctantly, but then she was a born politician. She knew exactly what her next move would be, how she would behave, how she would treat her opponents, rivals, allies, she knew. That was amazing.”
Vaasanthi also talks about the unique nature of Tamil politics and the people’s outlook that let an actor who is a Brahmin become the head of an organisation which had its roots in a movement which was anti-Brahmin. She added that Tamils accepted Jayalalithaa and her mentor MGR although they were Malayalis.
