Opinions

Dear Suriya-Jyotika, Do You Think We’re Fools?

November 27, 2024
The Commune

The Dravidianist family of actor Suriya and his wife Jyothika, who previously virtue-signaled about the importance of directing public money toward schools and hospitals rather than temple donations, have recently experienced a dramatic shift in their public personas. After one of the most disappointing box-office failures in Kollywood history, the couple has suddenly embraced a deep spiritual awakening. They are now reportedly visiting famous temples both within Tamil Nadu and outside the state, demonstrating a newfound reverence for the faith and an intense commitment to worship.

This unexpected spiritual transformation comes in the wake of the flop of Suriya’s latest movie, Kanguva. Despite initial hopes and heavy promotion, the film failed to resonate with audiences. It struggled at the box office, with theatres eventually pulling it due to poor ticket sales. In contrast, Amaran, a smaller-budget rival film that was released around the same time, continued to enjoy strong audience turnout, drawing full houses even after two weeks of screening. While Kanguva floundered, with many viewers criticizing it online, reports surfaced claiming that the film was still doing well, fueled by attempts from the crew to counter the negative feedback with false claims of the film’s success.

On 20 November 2024, a video of Dravidianist actor Suriya and director Siva visiting the Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple in Sholingar, near Ranipet went viral, following the intense backlash from fans after the release of Suriya’s movie ‘Kanguva’, which received severe criticism and widespread trolling from all corners of the country.

On 26 November 2024, Suriya and Jyothika, the husband-and-wife duo, visited the esteemed Mookambika Temple in Kollur, Karnataka. There, they had a divine darshan and took part in the sacred Chandika Homam, seeking blessings at this revered spiritual site.

On 27 November 2024, actress Jyothika, wife of actor Suriya, visited the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati for a spiritual pilgrimage, seeking blessings at the renowned temple.

On 27 November 2024, actor Suriya visited the Sri Masaniamman Temple in Anaimalai, where he offered prayers and sought blessings for the success of his upcoming film, Suriya 45.

Ironically, just as the film’s box-office failure became apparent, the couple, known for their previous stance against temple donations, has now found solace in their faith, with Suriya and Jyothika taking rounds at temples—a stark contrast to their earlier statements. Their sudden spiritual awakening coinciding with the Kanguva‘s failure, leading many to comment that the couple demonstrates their true acting skills in real life, even more so than on screen.

Now, in what seems to be an apparent attempt to rebuild their image, they have turned to temple visits and ensured that the media is fully aware of their newfound devotion, with the Dravidianist media giving it their complete attention and coverage. Even though they are aware of how their actions and statements have hurt the sentiments of many, particularly Hindus in the state, they have yet to apologize. Their egos continue to prevent them from acknowledging the mistake they made earlier.

Had their recent film been successful, there likely wouldn’t have been any sudden display of spiritual devotion. Instead, they would have continued their support for the DMK and the Dravidianist ideology, carrying on as usual. The shift from their controversial statements to this newfound religious fervor is a simple staged act rather than genuine devotion. Critics suggest that the only way for the couple to redeem themselves is to publicly apologize for their past comments, undergo a sincere change of heart, and demonstrate true faith through their actions.

The ridicule and trolling directed at actor Suriya stem from his wife, Jyothika’s statement at a 2020 awards ceremony, where she emphasized the importance of donating to schools and hospitals instead of temples. She had compared the grandeur of the Brihadeeshwara temple to Udaipur’s palaces, but her experience with a poorly maintained hospital during her filming led her to advocate for prioritizing donations to educational and healthcare institutions.

Instead of criticizing the state for its handling of health services, she subtly used the platform to urge the public to direct their charitable contributions toward schools and hospitals, asserting that these sectors are more, deserving of support.

Even this time, when ‘Kanguva’ being heavily criticized for its weak plot and poor execution, Jyotika, actor Suriya’s wife, took to social media to defend the film, calling out the harsh backlash. She expressed her disappointment at the “unfair” criticism, emphasizing that she was speaking as a cinema lover, not just as Suriya’s wife. Jyotika acknowledged the film’s flaws, particularly the first half-hour and jarring sound, but argued that these are common in large-scale, experimental films. She praised the movie for its unique cinematic experience, highlighting its visuals, camera work, and emotional storyline.

Jyotika also criticized the disproportionate negativity the film received compared to other big-budget Tamil movies, which often feature problematic tropes but aren’t subjected to the same scrutiny. She suggested that the backlash might have been part of a targeted campaign against the film, urging the ‘Kanguva’ team to remain proud of their work.

However, her defense of the film drew more criticism, with many pointing out the contradiction in her past statements about directing donations away from temples to schools and hospitals. Critics also took issue with her urging people to support the film, despite it being widely panned, as a way to sustain the extravagant lifestyle of the film’s cast and crew.

A Virtue-Signalling Family

Suriya and his family, particularly his wife Jyothika and brother Karthi have many a time indulged in virtue-signaling to peddle DMK propaganda. He was one of the frontrunners in peddling anti-NEET rhetoric and making comments against the National Education Policy 2020. It has been reported that the actor and his wife Jyothika have moved to Mumbai primarily for their children’s education. The couple is said to have invested ₹70 crore in property in the city to provide the best possible education for their children. Their son is enrolled in an IB school in Mumbai, with their wealth being used to secure his future. Meanwhile, the same individuals who can afford such luxuries are quick to speak against policies like NEP 2020 and NEET, which aim to benefit the common citizen,

Surprisingly, after the DMK came to power, Suriya and his family vacated their old Chennai residence, which is now being guarded by armed policemen, courtesy of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the family has since moved to Mumbai.

His brother Karthi had called for the boycott of the three farm laws that were implemented by the Modi Government ignorant of the fact that such laws were already in place in Tamil Nadu.

Furthermore, Suriya runs a “non-profit” organization called the Agaram Foundation and has resorted to virtue-signalling by being vocal for causes espoused by the ruling DMK. He is known for his anti-NEET stance when he claimed it filters away those aspiring to study medicine but Suriya’s hypocrisy shines through his teeth when one looks at the selection process for students seeking financial help for higher education through Agaram Foundation run by the actor. According to the Agaram Foundation’s website, they have a rigorous scoring system in place to identify ‘deserving’ students. This requirement contradicts the stated mission of promoting education and social equality.

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