‘Century Gowda’ extends support to Janata Dal (S)

None of the residents in his village Singri Gowdana Koppalu of Pandavapura in Mandya district knows the real age of this elderly farmer and actor, who goes by the name ‘Century Gowda’.

And though he has often condemned politics in his films, Singri Gowda, a nonagenarian, joined the Janata Dal (Secular) during the party’s campaign ‘Raitha Chaithanya’ at Pandavapura on Sunday. Mr. Gowda was the cynosure of all eyes during the programme.

He received a big round of applause while former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda honoured him with a shawl. However, he did not address the gathering.

A crowd puller?

The veteran actor, aged between 95 and 98, came to limelight through his role ‘Century Gowda’ in the award winning film Thithi a few years ago. After Thithi, he also acted in Tharle Village and some other movies.

According to some villagers, who are personally known to Mr. Gowda, the sandalwood actor has zero knowledge about the current political development or the Assembly election because of his age factor.

“Though Mr. Gowda has joined the JD(S), he is a great admirer of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and and former Chief Ministers Devaraj Urs and S.R. Bangarappa as he was impressed by their pro-poor schemes and stance [of Mr. Bangarappa] taken in connection with the Cauvery water sharing dispute,” said Made Gowda, a resident of Singri Gowdana Koppalu.

“He does not know the principles and ideologies of any political party. He was made to join the party by some of the villagers associated with the JD(S) because of his popularity,” Channe Gowda, another villager, said.

Will the party use Singri Gowda as a star campaigner in the district?

“Century Gowda is a popular face in Mandya and is known for recitation of lengthy dialogues and delivering them spontaneously. Hence, the party will use him during the campaign,” said a JD(S) leader.