Amma came, saw and conquered

The sun was at its fiercest even though it was 4 pm: bright, piercing and sharp. Also bright were the red and black flags waved by the thousands of people who had gathered on the streets of Saidapet in Chennai. The occasion: the launch of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha's election campaign on Saturday.

Festoons, flags and posters adorned the entire area. Posters of new friends -- Jayalalitha with Vaiko; Jayalalitha with Thirumalvalavan -- were also seen at vantage points. Blaring from the loudspeaker was the song, Vaazha Meenukkum. If Manmada Raasa was the flavour of the last Lok Sabha elections, it is 'Gana' Ulaganathan's very rustic Vaazha Meenukkum this time. One could see many people dancing the way the singer did in the film Chithiram Pesuthadi. It was followed by Naalai Namathe... yes, an old MGR song from the Tamil remake of Yaadon ki Baraat.

Reportage: Shobha Warrier, Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj

Also See: Sun TV blacked me out: Vaiko