In a discussion with Redpix, advocate Pulianthope Mohan denounced the new Tamil film Amaran for promoting what he called “blatant Islamophobia” and accused it of dangerously misrepresenting Kashmiris while pushing a one-sided nationalistic agenda. He criticized the film for failing to highlight the genuine issues faced by Kashmiris, instead framing them through the perspective of a military protagonist, which, according to him, criminalizes an entire community.

“They are raising the wrong issues,” Mohan said, pointing out that the portrayal of martyred Major Mukund Varadarajan, the film’s main character, ignores deeper “humanitarian” and political problems. “It’s not about hiding the identity of a soldier; the problem is that Amaran manipulates audiences by vilifying Kashmiri people, diverting attention from Kashmir’s decades-long struggle.”

Mohan said that showcasing an army officer’s journey is acceptable in itself, but that it should not come at the expense of degrading a people. He drew a comparison to the Tamil Eelam war: “For Tamilians, our closest experience with such trauma was the Eelam war. If we were to show a Sinhalese hero while criminalizing Tamils in the process, would it be right? It’s perfectly fine to depict an army officer’s life, love story, and family. But when this portrayal criminalizes others, it’s wrong.”

The advocate referenced India’s complex relationship with Kashmir, pointing out that Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, had promised a plebiscite to Kashmiris, a promise that remains unfulfilled. Mohan argued that the film erases Kashmir’s legitimate aspirations and glosses over issues like the heavy military presence and prolonged curfews that locals have endured. “We struggled with a 1.5-year lockdown during COVID. But Kashmir has faced restrictions for nearly 50 years,” he said, emphasizing that “there are no Kashmiri voices on social media. While I can speak out, they can’t.”

Mohan expressed disappointment with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s endorsement of the film. “Stalin said he got teary-eyed watching it. Yes, even I did – but when my Kashmiri brother was wounded by bullets and pellets,” Mohan said, adding that he believes Amaran perpetuates Islamophobia and contributes to a distorted perception of Kashmiris as enemies. “This film is pure poison,” he stated, calling it a manipulative attempt to bury Kashmir’s real issues under a veil of patriotism.

Mohan also invoked the perspective of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, pointing out that Ambedkar was highly critical of India’s policies toward Kashmir. “Ambedkar actually called for a plebiscite, and he didn’t say that Article 370 was wrong or that Kashmir was unequivocally India’s,” Mohan argued. “Ambedkar saw the government’s approach to Kashmir as fundamentally flawed. He said politicians focused on who was right instead of what was right.” He highlighted that Amaran distorts Ambedkar’s views and that Indian soldiers and Kashmiris alike are losing lives because of these unresolved issues.

Pulianthope Mohan also said that for Kashmiris, Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir is the same as Indian-Occupied-Kashmir. He said that India was born headless (thalaiyilla mundam) when it attained independence and Felix went on to say that the Indian government grabbed Kashmir through force.

Addressing the larger impact of Amaran, Mohan argued that films like it manipulate audiences and contribute to anti-Muslim sentiments. He shared an incident involving a Tamil schoolteacher who asked students to draw terrorists, leading them to sketch stereotyped images of men with skullcaps and beards. “This is dangerous,” he warned, attributing such prejudices to a growing trend of Islamophobia that films like Amaran reinforce. “We are regressive when it comes to Islamophobia, and Amaran will only take us backward.”

He also claimed that actors like Vijayakanth, Arjun, and now Sivakarthikeyan have been injecting poison through their nationalistic films.

Mohan went on to express his concern over the support Amaran has received from Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK party, drawing a parallel between DMK’s current position and the BJP’s nationalist rhetoric. He claimed that the DMK is abandoning its core principles and beginning to align with the BJP’s approach. “By promoting these narratives, they’re speaking the same language as BJP,” he observed. Mohan added that DMK’s support for films like Amaran could ultimately strengthen BJP’s influence in Tamil Nadu, a shift he described as alarming. “DMK used to challenge nationalistic feelings and was vocal about not using minorities as vote banks. But now, it seems they’ve reversed their stance. DMK appears to be using the minority community merely as a vote bank without genuinely supporting their issues.”

He also noted DMK’s treatment of UAPA prisoners in Tamil Nadu, describing it as another dimension of the party’s hypocrisy. Mohan recalled how Stalin had initially promised to release long-term prisoners but failed to fulfill this commitment. “Even if you don’t release existing prisoners, at least stop sending new ones inside,” he added, describing the UAPA as another oppressive measure disproportionately affecting minorities.

Mohan condemned the film’s portrayal of Sheikh Abdullah, the first Prime Minister of Kashmir, who had been protected by former Tamil Nadu leader Karunanidhi. He accused the film of unfairly depicting Abdullah as a criminal, erasing the historical support extended by Tamil leaders to Kashmir’s autonomy. “Karunanidhi extended his support to Sheikh Abdullah, but his grandson Stalin is now distributing films that show him as a criminal. This change in values is alarming.”

Mohan also criticized the government’s decision to grant permission for a Brahmin protest in Tamil Nadu, questioning the motivation behind such approvals. “Permission shouldn’t have been given in the first place. Who authorized this? There are bigger issues to address, but they distract us with this,” he said, suggesting that such diversions are a tactic to avoid addressing more pressing concerns.

The advocate concluded his remarks with a powerful plea, emphasizing that Tamil Nadu’s leaders need to stand with minority communities and resist endorsing divisive narratives genuinely. “I don’t care if the film is made, nor about Siva Karthikeyan acting in it. What alarms me is that Stalin and Udhayanidhi support it,” he said. “

They’re manipulating people by showing only one side of the story. We should remember that this affects the lives of Muslims here, who have to live under suspicion whenever there’s an incident in Kashmir.”

Mohan underscored that the DMK’s contradictions have left him disillusioned with the party, adding, “Even Periyar said that the Kashmir issue must be resolved by the people, and yet DMK continues to ignore these values.”

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