Filmmaker Ameer Sultan, who is involved in an international drug smuggling racket, has triggered controversy with remarks critical of Hindu devotional traditions associated with the Tamil month of Margazhi. Speaking at a public event organised by filmmaker Pa. Ranjith, Ameer contrasted Hindu devotional music with what he described as “people’s music (Makkal Isai),” framing Margazhi bhajans as something that needed to be discarded.
Referring to the cultural meaning of the word “Neelam,” Ameer said, “The word ‘Neelam’ until Ranjith entered cinema was just ordinary, used in homes to whiten clothes. After Ranjith’s cinema entry, ‘Neelam’ became a revolutionary word. All that pride goes to Ranjith. He’s elevated ‘Neelam’ to a place of honor. So, we can’t see Ranjith just as a director—he has political vision. That’s how I see him. Ranjith will lead a massive army—this is undeniable. Party song is ready too, I think so. Sithan sang it. Congratulations.”
Ameer then directly targeted the religious practices traditionally associated with Margazhi, a month considered sacred in Tamil Hindu culture and known for early-morning bhajans and temple music. He stated, “The moment we heard the word ‘Margazhi’, all we knew from childhood was bhajan. Only bhajan during Margazhi. Pushing all that aside and bringing us from ritualistic music to people’s music—my heartfelt congratulations to Ranjith once again.”
Praising the scale of the event organised by Ranjith, Ameer added, “This is not an ordinary matter. Through cinema, he earned recognition, brought it into the public sphere, and today, in the capital of Tamil Nadu, he has organised people’s music. What started in a small auditorium has now reached a large open ground. When so many people gather and stand here, it is not a small achievement.” He also thanked those involved, saying, “I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked for this.”
Ameer further highlighted the presence of music from Nagpur, explicitly linking it to an ‘ideology’. He said, “What I especially enjoyed is that all the artists sitting here are very familiar to me—they are from my region, so there is a special affection. But when I sat here, the music that stood out was the music that came from Nagpur.” Elaborating on this, he added, “That Nagpur music is the music meant to drive away Nagpur ideology. Today, when one hears the word ‘Nagpur’, it represents a particular ideology. Bringing this music here was like ringing the death knell for that ideology. My congratulations to Ranjith for making that happen.”
Positioning Ranjith as a future political figure, Ameer remarked, “I want to see Ranjith rise to even greater heights. Like how Sithan sang, as a guiding leader. I feel that if you place Babasaheb’s image behind him, it would look fitting—because this is not just a photograph. It is the identity of a human being. It cannot be dismissed as merely a picture.”
Concluding his speech, Ameer framed the issue in national terms, stating, “Today, efforts are underway to erase leaders of the people by climbing different platforms and speaking in the name of different national ideologies. In such a situation, images like this are not just images. They are the identity of India. The identity of the Indian people. An identity that I revere.”
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