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Policemen and moustache
 It
is a common to find policemen with long and twirly moustaches. This is necessary
for policeman so that they look menacing and people get frightened on merely
seeing them. Further, most criminals and gangsters also look menacing with big
moustaches and long ‘kirudhas’ - sideburns. While encountering these dreaded
criminals, it is expedient for policemen to match their looks.
In those days policemen used to
wear only the half-trousers, the reason being that it would be convenient for
them when they have to chase criminals. Police uniforms were then made of
cotton. This was also meant for the comfort of the policemen as they had to wear
their uniforms for long hours even during summer and would sweat less in cotton
clothes.
Similarly,
in those days, policemen used to wear a long red cap, which could easily
distinguish them as being a law-enforcing authority. Even the haircut would be
so short and trim that the cap would fit on the head beautifully. The reason for
keeping the hair short was that if a criminal grabs a policemen during a chase,
long and lengthy hair would make it easy for the criminal to twist the policeman’s
head and attack him.
But nowadays these traditions
have changed considerably. The long moustaches of policemen have become a scene
of the past. Nowadays, most of the policemen prefer a short moustache to look
young as big moustaches make them look old. The half-trousers, ideal for chasing
criminals, have become outdated and all the policemen now wear only full pants.
 The
cotton ‘khaki’ uniform has now been replaced by ‘terricotton’ khaki-dark
grey uniform. The long, red cap has disappeared and in its place a modern sporty
cap has come into use. It is difficult for a common man to distinguish between a
policeman and private security personnel. The trimmed, short haircut has become
old-fashioned, and most policemen now have long, ‘Hippie-type' hair cut.
But, recently, the moustache
culture has been revived in police circles. When the present Chennai City Police
Commissioner R Nataraj was posted as ADGP, Special Security Force, to nab forest
brigand Veerappan, he found it necessary to have a long and twirly moustache to
terrorise – or at least match - Veerappan who has a distinctive moustache.
But when Kamal Hassan's box
office hit 'Virumandi' was released, the ‘Virumandi type’ moustache
attracted the policemen, including some of IPS officers. Nataraj was the first
one who emulated Kamal Virumandi moustache: with the big moustache and sideburns
meeting each other.
 The
style has become prominent among Tamil Nadu policemen. A Joint Commissioner of
Chennai City Police and even some policemen in the middle and lower level now
sport the Virumandi style.
When
asked about this change, the City Police Commissioner had said it was he who had
created the ‘moustache style’ and Kamal Hassan had only emulated him. But
sources close to Kamal deny the claim and say Virumandi style is their
copyright.
Anyhow, ‘moustache’, a ‘weapon
of terror’ for the policemen, has now slowly and steadily become a statement
of fashion, which even officers of the Indian Police Service in Tamil Nadu have
become fond of.
Harvey
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