The audio launch event of Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s third directorial venture, “Lal Salaam,” was held on 26 January 2024 where she addressed the speculation of personal attacks about her father stating that ‘Rajinikanth is not a Sanghi, if he were, he wouldn’t have acted in the movie “Lal Salaam.”
#JUSTIN | "ரஜினிகாந்த் சங்கி கிடையாது" – ஐஸ்வர்யா ரஜினிகாந்த் #AishwaryaRajinikanth | #Rajinikanth𓃵 | #LalSalaamAudioLaunch | #LalSalaam pic.twitter.com/dwMWvKg5sQ
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) January 26, 2024
Despite this clarification, the term “Sanghi” continues to linger, leading to criticism and support for Aishwarya and her father, with many accusing Rajinikanth of hypocrisy. There were mixed responses among netizens.
One netizen commented ‘Yes he is not Sanghi. He is more than that‘ and he emphasized this by sharing a picture that suggests he is from a different state.
ஆமா சங்கி இல்ல அதுக்கும் மேல pic.twitter.com/Bht7PJESdi
— JOHN JR ™ (@Vetrimaran_TM) January 26, 2024
Another netizen posted a video of Rajinikanth’s visit to the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on August 2023. In the video, Rajinikanth respectfully bowed and touched Yogi Adityanath’s feet, but this gesture sparked criticism and ridicule.
https://t.co/TqOvIjv3EF
Sanghi Rajini.— CEENNN (@ASALT241753) January 22, 2024
Another user asked ‘Does Sanghi mean a bad word?’ (derogatory)
சங்கி-ன்னா கெட்ட வார்த்தையா? 😥 pic.twitter.com/cJoehyVmRR
— Dr. தீபக் (@nikaran_tn) January 26, 2024
Another internet user claimed, “Thanks for confirming that the term ‘sanghi’ is considered derogatory.“
சங்கி என்பது கெட்ட வார்த்தை என்று மீண்டும் உறுதி செய்தமைக்கு
நன்றி 🙏❤️— தோழன் O.3 (@pk_comrade_03) January 26, 2024
Another netizen expressed that ‘He is sanghi. Do not say anything to promote the film’
சங்கிதான்!
படம் ஓடணும்னு ஏதாவது பேசக்கூடாது….— Political Memes (@Political_satir) January 26, 2024
Following this, actor Rajinikanth, who was at Chennai airport en route to Vijayawada, was questioned by the media who wanted to clarify their doubts. Rajinikanth dismissed the notion asserting that this statment was not a promotional tactic for the Lal Salaam film.
#BREAKING ‘சங்கி' கெட்டவார்த்தைனு ஐஸ்வர்யா எங்கும் சொல்லல -ரஜினிகாந்த்#rajinikanth #aishwaryarajinikanth #lalsalaam #news18tamilnadu | https://t.co/7dpn9FD15R pic.twitter.com/kWlRghQVjb
— News18 Tamil Nadu (@News18TamilNadu) January 29, 2024
The reporters questioned Rajinikanth saying his daughter asked everyone not to refer her father as a “Sanghi”. Rajinikanth replied, “Aishwarya did not mention Sanghi as a derogatory term anywhere, her view is why everyone is referring to him like that when Dad is a spiritualist and loves all religions.”. Rajinikanth also mentioned that the movie Lal Salaam was based on religious harmony.
#BREAKING லால் சலாம் படத்தை விளம்பரப்படுத்த சங்கி விவகாரம் பற்றி ஐஸ்வர்யா பேசவில்லை – ரஜினி காந்த் விளக்கம் #rajinikanth #aishwaryarajinikanth #lalsalaam #news18tamilnadu | https://t.co/7dpn9FD15R pic.twitter.com/nG8myyiWJ2
— News18 Tamil Nadu (@News18TamilNadu) January 29, 2024
Sanghi is a term referring to a devout Hindu, a subscriber of Hindutva ideology, a support of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and everything in that spectrum. However, it is used by leftists, Islamists and Dravidianists to derogate their ideological and political opponents.
It can be inferred from Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s statement that the term ‘Sanghi’ was used pejoratively with a negative connotation. She had said that “only a person with humanity would do Lal Salaam” implies that “Sanghis” lack humanity.
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