ARVIND SWAMINATHAN writes from Madras: Karnataka is a major cricket cradle in the country. A number of cricketers from the State, men and women, have gone on to play the game at the highest level with verve and distinction. And the Ranji team has consistently been one of the few to break the stranglehold of Bombay and Delhi and walk away with the championship.
Proof, full and final, comes with the State contributing two captains to the Indian Test team, one after the other, a not usual honour in a selection system riven by regionalism and groupism.
But a nice point to ponder is if the two most successful cricketers from the State—the just-appointed Test captain Anil Radhakrishna Kumble and his immediate predecessor Rahul Sharad Dravid—have been so successful largely because they have been less Kannadiga than their other State-mates, past and present, in their attitude to life and to the game.
Make no mistake, Karnataka has had buckets of cricket talent for a long time. Talent which perhaps brings even Kumble and Dravid down to earth in their moments of humility.
Oldtimers, for instance, get all misty eyed at the sepia-toned images of Gundappa Viswanath‘s square cuts and late cuts. The arresting guile of Erapalli Prasanna, the match-winning unpredictability of Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, the quicksilver keeping of Syed Kirmani, the searing pace of Javagal Srinath are all unique in their own ways.
There have been others from Karnataka who have gone on to showcase their talent on the international stage: the belligerent Brijesh Patel, the resourceful Roger Binny, the wily Venkatesh Prasad, the slithery Sunil Joshi. And, of course, there are the one-day wonders, Vijay Bharadwaj, Sujith Somasunder and David Johnson.
Yet if Kumble and Dravid stand tall over their peers and predecessors, in spite of arguably not possessing the same ethereal talent of Chandrashekhar and Viswanath, respectively, there must be some very good reasons for it.
Reason One is obvious: they are articulate children of the one-day era and their accomplishments have been achieved in the media age unlike those of Chandra or Vishy.
With newspapers and TV, websites and mobile devices drumming home their every feat, big and small, cricketing and non-cricketing, ad nauseam into the public memory, Kumble and Dravid have been in the public eye a great deal more and therefore seem more successful.
Reason Two is numerical: in a game made for statisticians, both Kumble and Dravid have the sheer weight of numbers behind them.
Much as we might wax eloquent of the turn and bounce of Chandra, the truth is he took 250 wickets in some 50-odd Tests. On the other hand, Kumble has 566 from 118. Plus there is that conversation-stopping all-ten-wickets-in-an-innings haul.
Likewise, Dravid, who has more runs in Tests, more runs in ODIs, more centuries, more double centuries, than GRV.
And both Kumble and Dravid, of course, have played more matches, Tests and ODIs, than all the other Karnataka players.
Reason Three is less obvious. Which is that Team India’s two most recent captains have none of the characteristics that Kannadigas in general or Kannadiga cricketers in particular are otherwise famous (or notorious) for.
Sure, they both speak Kannada. Sure, there is the archetypal Kannadiga decency and civility, both are the kind of boys you would like your daughter married off to. Sure, both are typically self-effacing, letting their ball and bat do all the talking. Sure, both are sagely studious, who if they weren’t playing cricket would have earned a couple of nice PhDs.
But that’s where the Karnataka-Kannadiga connect ends.
I believe that both Kumble and Dravid—and possibly Dravid because of Kumble—have a set of traits that are more Australian than Adugodi, if you get what I mean.
Of course, this is just a theoretical argument. I have no data to prove my point. But, as a Kannadiga looking at the State from outside, I would posit that Kumble and Dravid are Kannadiga in name only and it is largely because of this that they are really so successful.
Mind you, I am not arguing that they are not Kannadigas or less of a Kannadiga than others.
I am not even saying that this is a good thing or a bad thing.
All I am saying is that I believe that in their mind, the two Kannadigas—one who was born in Karnataka, one who grew up in Karnataka—have made the big mental leap that is required for sustained success on the global stage that none of their other even more accomplished Kannadiga cricketing compatriots enjoyed for all their talent.
And what is that big mental leap?
A big mental leap in aggression. Unlike say Srinath, who tried to apologise to Ricky Ponting after he struck him with a bouncer, both Kumble and Dravid are quietly aggressive. They are not openly, foolishly demonstrative about their aggression like Sreesanth, but with their steely eyes and their actions they show their killer instinct; that they are not as soft as their Kannadiga brethren.
Remember Dravid vs Allan Donald? Instead of being cowed down by White Lightning’s chin music or his “lip service”, rookie Dravid belted him for a six over his head.
This aggression has given both Kumble and Dravid the durability in the national team, and a corresponding national and international acceptability. They represent the new, emerging India.
A big leap in gamesmanship. Both Kumble and Dravid are as fair as they come, but they play hard, very hard. They give no quarter and take no quarter.
As captain in the 1982 golden jubilee Test against England, Vishy called back Bob Taylor in Bombay when he thought the wicketkeeper was not out. Result: India’s chances went out of the window. I would love to be proved wrong, but neither India’s previous captain nor the next would ever show such mercy on their opponents.
“Gentleman” Vishy walked when he thought he was out. Never has and never will Dravid, who realises that in high-stakes cricket, there’s only so much returns “sportsman spirit” can fetch beyond a point.
And a big leap in grit and determination. Kannadiga cricketers by nature are reputed to be docile, “hogli bidi” types who do what they think is the right thing and hope the chips fall where they may.
There is a famous instance of this. Bombay vs Karnataka, Ranji Trophy. Chandra catches Sunil Gavaskar plumb in front but the umpire turns it down. At the end of the over, Gavaskar thinks Chandra will tease and taunt him for a “life”. But all Chandra tells Sunny is “Suna kya?” Chandra is talking of somebody in the midwicket area of the stands playing Mukesh songs on his transistor radio!
Cricketers like Joshi were emblematic of this. For all his supposed talent, the left arm spinner and batsman was just so happy, or so it seemed from this distance, to have simply made the journey from Gadag to Georgetown. Once his Ranji performances fetched him a place in the national side, Joshi seemed to have no motivation or energy left to perform.
Kumble and Dravid on the other hand exemplify the go-getting enterprise and drive that is otherwise visible in Bangalore other core competency: Information Technology. They have both achieved what only one in five crore or five-and-a-half crore Kannadigas have achieved, but they want more. And they are not sheepish or apologetic about wanting more, and about being seen wanting more.
To want more is not new or unnatural, but in seeking to achieve it, the two captains have what it takes between the ears and in their legs. Both are single minded in their focus and hunger for success, and both are unnaturally physically fit in seeking to achieve it. Kannadiga cricketers otherwise have not been known for their stamina and energy, not these two.
It’s easy to think of Sachin Tendulkar or Shane Warne as role models, but the sad truth is that they are from another planet; they possess skills and talents few others do.
Kumble and Dravid, on the other hand, are humans—and Kannadigas to boot. In achieving what they have through sheer hunger and will power, they are our more realistic role models.
Through their achievements, they have shown all Kannadigas what we can achieve if only we want to. And they have set the benchmark for a future generation of Karnataka cricketers, of whom I would argue Robin Utthappa is only the first exemplary.
Photograph courtesy: BBC
Secret of HDK’s success is un-kannadiganess.
A big mental leap in aggression.
Unlike say MP prakash, who tried to apologize after his party bowled a beamer, both HDDG, and HDK are quietly aggressive. They are not openly, foolishly demonstrative about their aggression like ThiruKa, but with their steely eyes and their actions they show their killer instinct; that they are not as soft as their Kannadiga brethren.
Remember HDDG vs RKH? Instead of being cowed down by Suave Lightning’s chin music or his “lip service”, rookie HDDG belted him for a six over his head or pulled the chairs from under is legs, if you like.
This aggression has given both HDDG and HDK the durability in regional politics, and a corresponding regional and national acceptability. They represent the new, emerging KA.
A big leap in gamesmanship. Both HDDG and HDK are as unfair as any politicians come, but they play hard, very hard. They give no quarter and take no quarter. Infact, they are known to hoard huge quarters.
As the captain in 80’s, RKH called back Raj Bhavan when he thought he was out. Result: KA’s chances at decent polity went out of the window. I would love to be proved wrong, but neither KA’s previous captains nor the next ones would ever show such mercy on their citizens.
“Gentleman” RKH walked when he thought he was out. Never has and never will HDK, who realises that in high-stakes politics, there’s only so much returns “coalition dharma” can fetch beyond a point.
And a big leap in grit and determination. Kannadiga politicians are by nature are reputed to be “yakri bidli” types who think what they do is the right thing and dont care where the chips fall.
There is a famous instance of this. GoK vs NICE, SC. GoK catches NICE plumb in front but the SC turns it down. At the end of the case, NICE thinks GoK will ease and not taunt him for a “life”. But what GoK tells NICE is “keLastha?” GoK is talking of appealing again and again to SC and playing to the stands like a broken record of PBS songs on an old player!
Politicians like Siddhu were emblematic of this. For all his supposed talent, the master spinner and batsman was just so happy, or so it seemed from this distance, to have simply made the journey from Mysore to Mantri bhavan. Once his byelection performances fetched him a place in the national party, Siddu seemed to have no motivation or energy left to perform.
HDDG and HDK on the other hand exemplify the go-getting enterprise and drive that is otherwise visible in Bangalore’s other core competencies: it’s cricketers and Information Technology. They have both achieved what none of the other two major parties in this assembly have achieved, but they want more. And they are not sheepish or apologetic about wanting more, and about being seen wanting more.
To want more is not new or unnatural, but in seeking to achieve it, the two ex-CMs have what it takes between the ears and in their legs. Both are single minded in their focus and hunger for success, and both are unnaturally physically fit in seeking to achieve it. Kannadiga politicians otherwise have not been known for their stamina and energy, not these two.
TS,
Very entertaining!
The author has listed certain characteristics exhibited by Kumble and Dravid, that were supposedly absent in other Kannadiga cricketers. If the elements of comparison are just other Kannadiga cricketers, why is the generalisation that those characterisitcs are non-Kannadiga ? That would be a premature and damaging statement to make.
Kumble is definitely not the average docile Kannadiga. As a contrast, I remember hearing Vijay Bharadwaj admonish himself on Television after receiving the man of the series award in Nairobi. That was a case of over-humility and with that attitude ( or lack of it thereof) one doesn’t go far in International cricket, let alone life.
I really dont understand where the non-kannadiga part comes in.
It is their individual trait.
Anyway, good thought process, likening their success to ‘new India’.
Generalisations are generalisations. Not every Sardar can be a Bhindranwale, nor every Kashmiri woman an Indira. Ethnobiography is obviously not Swaminathan’s forte.
Tarlesubba’s response is Kannada thaleharate at its best. Send more parodies our way, Subbu. May you take every wicket and hit every ball! Show them what Kannadiga stuff truly is. “Maadhuryange maadhryan, baadippa kalige kaliyuga vipareethan, ” etc.
The secret of such an article from Churumuri is his un-Scholarlyness.
Unscholarlyness in what? In the history of Kannada, Kannadigas and Karnataka. In understanding the true nature of a Kannadiga.
If it wasn’t aggression, grit and determination, what was it which fueled Kannadigas to expand territory all the way to Bengal, defeat Harshavardhana, and be described as “ಸಾಧುಂಗೆ ಸಾಧು, ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಂಗೆ ಮಾಧುರ್ಯಂ, ಭಾಧಿಪ್ಪ ಕಲಿಗೆ ಕಲಿಯುಗ ವಿಪರೀತನ್ ” (Saadhunge saadhu, Maadhuryange Maadhuryan, Baadhippa Kalige Kaliyuga Vipareetan)?
Funnily, while Churumuri is wrong in saying these kids are “less Kannadiga than their other State-mates, past and present, in their attitude to life and to the game”, his un-Scholarlyness fails to anticipate. How, you ask? Because the trifling aggression, grit and determination demonstrated by a couple of kids in a ballgame pales in comparison to the grit, aggression and determination of the real Kannadiga!
If Churumuri is seeing the lack of aggression, grit and determination in Kannadigas (in general) today, that too, is un-Kannadiganess and not Kannadiganess as his un-Scholarlyness and a mirror would make believe.
Understand true Kannadiganess before you speak such nonsense about the character of Kannadigas, Mr. Churumuri!
Errata:
Funnily, while Churumuri is wrong in saying these kids are “less Kannadiga than their other State-mates, past and present, in their attitude to life and to the game”, he is right in a way his un-Scholarlyness fails to anticipate. How, you ask? Because the trifling aggression, grit and determination demonstrated by a couple of kids in a ballgame pales in comparison to the grit, aggression and determination of the real Kannadiga!
What does the author mean by Unkannadiganess? Sheer nonsense. Humility, grit and determination – these three are sufficient. A former CM born in Karnataka and grew up in Karnataka had the audacity to disclaim her birthplace. Such unnecessary epithets should be discouraged by one and all. He is the Captain of the Indian team. Let us all wish him success in his new capacity.
TS,
that was fantastic.. except that you forgot to edit the adjectives for siddu
Much as we might wax eloquent of the turn and bounce of Chandra, the truth is he took 250 wickets in some 50-odd Tests. On the other hand, Kumble has 566 from 118. Are you serious? How is Kumble’s 4.79 wickets per test any better than Chandra’s 5 per test? Unkanndiganess? Are you counting those “friendly” auto drivers of Bangalore who are fast catching up with their counterparts of Madras. How I long for those days when the rudest it could get was a curt growling “Kanndadalli mathadi!”
mr.arvind has got it all wrong. this is a typical reaction of a non-kannadiga on seeing a kannadaiga success story.
secret of success of karnataka cricketers in international cricket has been their kannada upbringing. no glamour,no ding-dong ,only your work state of mind. srinath,venky, anil, sujith,ganesh all come across as PAKKADA MANE HUDUGARU.
i went to anil’s house as a autograph hunter to try my luck, anil obliged without any fuss, he spoke to me like a friend in SPASHTA KANNADA . an experience i would cherish for ever.
ANIL KUMBLE IS A ROLE MODEL FOR KANNADIGA YOUTH.
Going this way, Mr. Swaminathan will have 5 more posts on Churumuri saying – “Reason n – One important reason for (paste the name of your favorite Kannadiga celebrity or great personage here) success is his/her Un-Kannadiganess.”
Extending it to some other people, it would sound something like this – surely Rajkumar was a great actor because he was born in Tamil Nadu. And also, Visvesvaraya was a great engineer and administrator because he studied in Pune and worked in Gujarat! And, Pulikeshi was a great Kannadiga king because he ruled parts of what are now Maharashtra and Tamilnadu! Wow, Un-kannadiganess is indeed why all great Kannadigas succeed! Why didn’t I see it before?
Dr Ramesh:
Mr. Swamy has clearly stated that he IS A KANNADIGA.
He is a KANNADIGA (clap your hands and say it thrice.)
You and your penchant for seeing non-Kannadiga conspirancieis in everything and anything. Even if a cockroach dies you may see a non-Kannadiga conspirancy in it. Non-Kannadiga conspirancies are in every corner for you,looks like from IT to BT to the English media to the malls, banks and everything.
The secret of Kumble’s success is the secret of most successful people…hard work, determination and discipline and a never-give-up spirit. As these are not the exclusive perserve of Kannadigas, talking about the secret of his success is irrelevant, and amounts to chavanism of the first waters:
Something TN/KL can teach the world a thing or two in.
TS!
You have hit a sixer off very ball in your brief and lightning Innings!It was more fun reading your piece than the original.
It’s a nice analysis by Swaminathan.
Can anybody tell me, if Dravid had so much of nonkannadiganess and steely resolve, why did he panic and resign? Dravid is a great fighter, has proved his mettle time and again, but Vengsarkar is only a name-sake ‘Col’! Why didn’t he hook the bouncer for six , as he did the whitelightning bouncer or allow it to go past, as he does for someone who knows where his off stump is and one who is such a level-headed cricketer?
Would Kumble do a Dravid and quit when forced by real / imaginary pressure?
DB,
I don’t usually do this, but I’d like to offer you a sincere pat on the back for your choice of words (“clap your hands and say it thrice”). Really a beautiful way of making your point! Good one!
However, do not forget that now that a cockroach has died (Kumble becoming captain is as insignificant a happening in my world as that, unfortunately for cricket lovers) and Churumuri has hosted Arvind Swaminathan’s pure bullshit about how the death of cockroaches is un-Kannadiganess, you can’t get away from comments like those of dr ramesh.
Now, that doesn’t mean dr ramesh’s comments are absolutely correct and fully relevant to the post’s unscholarly thesis. (clap your hands and say it thrice, to borrow your own expression, if it helps).
DB, the author has ruffled some feathers by suggesting that un-Kannadiganess (whatever he means) is responsible for the success of these cricketers. So he should expect to get some brickbats.
If he means lacking killer instinct, this trait is not confined to any specific region. On the other hand people may argue that it is their Kannadiganess that keeps them clear of controversies and lets them focus on their work silently. This serves no purpose.
As rightly observed, it is hard work and determination to succeed that has got these players where they are and it should be acknowledged without affixing any labels to it.
Dear All,
Some counterfeiter has been posting under ‘DB’. The act itself is probably innocent but I feel many posters to this forum may get a little confused. SO here goes…The above post by DB is not by me! Looks like I need to copyright my name “Doddi Buddi” and henceforth and forthwith it will always be spelled out in full.
Further more, I would not give a rodent’s backside about cricketers and their ‘imagined’ triumphs! I apologize for any inconvenience caused.
I agree with many comments made above. Honestly, I don’t see any realationship between Kannadiganess or un-kannadiganess and Anil and Rahul’s success. Yes, only a Kannadiga could have written this self-berating article!
If I am not mistaken – Rahul Dravid walked on 95 in his debut match at Lords! I would call that classy ( a.k.a. Kannadiganess)
I guess, this fact alone kicks the entire premise of this article out of the window! Hehehehe …hahaha :)
I think, Kumble has undomitable spirit, courage, unparalled consistency in Indian cricket history.
Greatest crickters from Karnataka in my opinion are:
1. GR Viswanath
2. GR Viswanath
3. GR Viswanath
4. Anil Kumble
5. Rahul Dravid
6. Srinath
—Protima Konar/Connecticut/Kolkata
Long live kannadigas
Hi, Am a Tamil but a regular redaer of u’r blog. I am writing this not to tom-tom the tamilness but Dravid is no Kannadiga. The surname ‘Dravid’ is used by Tamil brahmins (Smartha Iyers) who settled in Kashi many generations ago. Dravid itself is sanskritisation of Tamil! (Remember Dravidian).
Like many Karnatakans, Dravid does not speak Kannada, at least in public. H. D. K wants to orate in English, but cannot. It will be a while before his gramya Kannada turns into the kind that public discourse demands.
I think some of the messages are going off-track but we are defining Kannadigas here as representing Karnataka or those who have helped the cause of Karnataka. Karnataka maathe does not treat anyone as step children :)
If we apply the same logic MGR, JJ and MuKa are supposed to have origins or links with other states but everyone knows them as Tamilians. It is the same in this case.
Those who have opted to live in Karnataka must at least make an attempt to learn the Kannada language. That is the only to put an end to Kannadigas’ paranoia. Even so, Bengaluru’s status as a Kannada town has been gone for decades.
That is the only way to put an end to Kannadiigas’ paranoia.
For those thinking Dravid is a Tamilian name, RS.Dravid was born in Nagpur, Marati is his mother tongue but speaks, reads, writes Kannada fluently. Since he was brought up and lived most of his life in Bangalore/Karnataka, he is a Kannadiga. I will not be surprised if he knows Tamil because people from Bengalooru generally know Tamil.
As a Kannadiga, as much as I don’t like to admit it (I have an ego too as many of the people posting here do) author Arvind Swaminathan is absolutely right!
Indians in general have been soft-bellied in history with ‘hogli bidi’ attitude, Kannadigas have been the worst of all Indians. In cricket or otherwise Kannadigas display ‘hogli bidi’ and ‘namag yaake’ attitude a lot!
Move around Bengalooru and compare it with moving around in Mumbai. A romeo eve-teases a girl in a BTS bus in Bengalooru- there are 50 people watching or pretending to not-watch what is happening or just looking away waiting for someone else to talk first. In a similar situation in Mumbai, the eve-teaser would be counting his remaining teeth in less than 2 minutes.
It is time educated and intellectual Kannadigas realized that physical and mental strength are attributes that are important to succeed. It is time Kannadiga parents realized that it is not only important for their child to get a rank in SSLC/PUC (and carnatic junior) exams but also be good in a sport and be physically and mentally fit.
From hundreds if not thousands of years, we Indians have been defeating thugs/raiders from across the border and magnanimously granting them amnesty only allowing them to return with a larger, stronger force to defeat and kill the same king or his son who granted him amnesty. Kannadigas have been even worse thinking that books/intellect is the sole savior and surrendering to scoundrels without even raising a fight.
It is nice to see that times are changing, finally. I hope to see at some point that positive-aggression will be a common attribute among Kannadigas.
JM mahashayare, yaav oor shiva nimdu, avnu yaavano thalemaasidavnu yeno bogaLada aMdre neenu niMthoMdbittideeya innoo joragi bogLakke? Nimmabbareegu KannaDada kannaDathanada gaMdha gaaLi.
Namage aggression kadime na? Yaav boLimaga maaDthaane aMtha general statement? Neenu ninna AS Konga hatra iddidre thikada mele ondu kottu ameekoMdu koothko maga anthidde.
In the mainstream white media Oprah, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods become less and less black with every success. This is the same kind of bullshit you are dishing out. The moment an NRN, a Kumble becomes successful they are not Kannadigas anymore. And then you come with a ur convoluted logic to explain that shit. These guys represent emerging India! wow and not emerging Kannadiga or Karnataka.
Why don’t you bag ur bullshit and go sell it somewhere else?
“Churmuri”yavari nimage swalpa nu maryade ilva? Cricket aMda thakshana iMtha kachda article na haaktheeyalla. Page hits jaasthi aagli aMtha ithara gimmick maaDadre, barovru baralla shiva.
barla,
irsumursu
I will not agree with the author for those comments.
I do not agree with what you say. These are their individual traits. And mostly hard work.
The authors arguments is fuzzy. If Uthappa and Appanna are successful in IPL and T20’s then the author will argue that they are less Kannadigas and more of Kodavas.
this is what called as jealous… some ppl cant digest the good facts of karnataka and kannada. they always fight to acquire oue land, water. they come to b’lore bcoz its beautiful, clean n has got wonderful weather than the clumsy, dirty n hot hot chennai. and make our city mess.
Mr. Aravind u’ll tell if some black korangu tamilian achieves anything then he is a great tamilian.. but why cant you digest this man… see we know you ppl are mean and very cheapish but don make it so obvious and still more cheap by writing such articles. we are hogli bidi types just bcoz we dont want to violent and fight with longu machhu like you ppl… other states ppl( of course not your state ppl u ppl don have habit of liking anyone) especially north indians like karnataka n kannadigas just because of our cordial co-operative nature. Stop saying you are also kannadiga Kannada thayi will be ashamed of ppl like you. better you say you are of that state where you are living. you don deserve to be a kannadiga. kannadigas are always big hearted n you don have that…
Interesting article….but not entirely correct, I should say. Just like all fingers are not equal, all Kannadigas are not the same. In general Kannadigas are civil & courteous but that does not mean that they do not have a competitive streak in them as evidenced by people like Kumble.
Kannadigas owe their success to their culture, upbringing and Language(read KANNADA).
I have seen in many places how some of our friends of our immediate neighbouring state, start forming groups and show their “kantri-buddhi” and later say “I am very shaamartiya(meaning very clever(read cunning))…. ”
They never learn nor make an attempt to learn Kannada
They still love their Scorching Hot Sambar Plateus and compare it’s excellence over Karnataka….
Hope they don take Advantage of our “hogli-bidi” attitude
Jaya Karnataka
Jay Hind
i read in a old india today with cover page captioned The Wall that dravid’s ancestors were from tamilnad who were invited to gwalior by the king.thereafter they settled in maharastra,Is it true,As a non kannadiga,i am just curious
Why does Tamil man always get to marry non-Tamilian woman but the other way around they don’t allow? It makes me really MADDDDD!!!
I think that everybody here is being too harsh on the author of this article Arvind Swaminathan. I dont think it was his intention to discredit kannadigas , neither is it a tamilian conspiracy.
I think he made the same innocent mistake that most non-kannadigas make when they meet a kannadiga for the first time and also when their interaction is limited to a brief period of time. They see a soft, docile, gentle person and it is natural for human beings to mistake gentleness for weakness.
He then sees an aggressive Kumble and he cannot believe he is a kannadiga, as the author by his own admission lives in Tamil nadu and his perception of kannadigas is the same as those of tamils, malayalis and telugus.
If he had been in contact with kannadigas for a longer period of time and taken the trouble to read the history of karnataka, then he would not have written this article.
To some one writing from Madras… i only have one question. How is Jayalalitha, MGR or Rajanikanth diffrent from any Tamilian… are they all successful because they are not Tamil. You made me beleive you Tamils are useless or hopeless…