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From Badmouthing Rajini, Trolling Sivakarthikeyan To Amplifying DMK Propaganda When AIADMK Was In Power: Meet RJ Balaji, A Virtue-Signalling Hypocrite Who Now Wants Political Netizens To Stick To Political Commentary

November 27, 2024
The Commune

Balaji Patturaj, aka ‘RJ Balaji’, the radio jockey-turned-actor known for virtue-signalling both during his time as a commentator and now in his film career, has recently drawn attention for his remarks while promoting his upcoming movie. He criticized political netizens, advising them to focus on politics rather than targeting films and attempting to sabotage their ‘success’. According to Balaji, political commentators should refrain from wasting their energy on commenting on films and instead stick to political commentary. However, his comments have sparked a backlash from the online community, with many netizens predicting that his next film will meet the same fate as actor Suriya’s recent pan-Indian disaster Kanguva, which failed miserably at the box office.

It is ironic that RJ Balaji, who had made a career out of criticizing films on his radio show and parroting DMK’s talk points on NEET, GST, Demonetization, Jallikattu and Cauvery issue, is now jittered about his films facing the wrath of netizens who are calling him out for his double standards. In this regard, here are a few examples of RJ Balaji’s hypocrisy.

RJ Balaji Simping For The DMK

In a flop film titled ‘Kee’, he had peddled propaganda about GST saying “Shall I tell you a story Siddharth sir? You and me go to the hotel to eat. But they’ll put a bill as if 2 other persons joined us. If we look who it is, it would be GST! For whom? For what? Our stomach will burn!”

In another interview, RJ Balaji mocked both GST and demonetisation, admitting that he didn’t fully understand them but still believed they were bad moves.

He said, “The big FM is also facing problems with GST, so I’m saying this. Apart from how this movie was affected, I don’t understand what GST is. I’m unable to understand it. Someone on Facebook yesterday posted that it’s like Kamal’s movie – you won’t understand it immediately, but you’ll celebrate it ten years later. If we celebrate it after ten years I’m okay with that, but like I said on November 8th, I was excited about demonetisation, thinking India would change dramatically because my knowledge of being patriotic is India should improve and in 2020 should become a superpower. I grew up watching Arjun and Sivaji’s movies with the same emotion, so I thought it was a great move. But after six months, I feel bad, I feel looted. So I don’t want GST also to make me feel the same way.”

RJ Balaji who had initially supported the demonetization switched his position as soon as Dravidianists started targeting him.

RJ Balaji had called the NEET exam a very tough exam that furthers inequality in a stage before DMK ministers. He stated, “Today we have NEET, which is very tough and filled with inequalities. Many leaders have fought heavily and abolished it, but tomorrow something called PEET will come, what will we do then? then another entrance test will come tomorrow.”

He had virtue-signalled in 2018 by refraining from doing commentary for the CSK Vs KKR IPL match to protest against the Centre over formation of Cauvery Water Management Board.

Selective Advocacy

How much a simp can RJ Balaji be? He will surprise us by going to great lengths to defend Ranjith’s caste-themed movies, even citing a rape case from Uttar Pradesh to make his point. However, it’s notable that he avoids mentioning similar cases of rape from the state of Tamil Nadu, which could have provided more relevant local context.

During a movie launch event, he stated, “When films of Pa. Ranjith and Asuran comes out, I can see some say, ‘Why are they talking about caste that doesn’t exist, or why make films on castes that have no relevance?’ But that’s not true. In fact, just a week or ten days ago, a girl was gang-raped in Uttar Pradesh, she was just 13 years old. When she went to the police station to file a complaint, the officer there raped her too and she was a Dalit girl. This has happened in India.”

In 2019, he made a film called Mookuthi Amman. The trailer initially suggested it to be a satirical take on religion while professing rationalism. The sneak peek of the film, which was released, had a scene mocking the missionaries for their ‘miracle-healing’ congregations.

The scene in question depicted a “jeba koottam” (prayer meeting) where Mano Bala, playing a pastor, humorously engages in “healing” through CDs. Balaji’s decision to cut the scene indicated his hesitancy to take risks in the face of potential backlash.

However like a true hypocritical Dravidianist, after the film’s release, he subtly removed the controversial scene that mocked Christian missionary proselytization, revealing that his rationalism and virtue-signalling is only reserved for Hindus.

Hypocrite Of The First Order? Mocking Of Stars From Humble Backgrounds While Simping For Suriya & Preaching Against Nepotism

In Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’s movie, RJ Balaji used comic dialogues to take jabs at flopped films, including Suriya’s Anjaan and actor Jiiva’s Mugamoodi. At one point, he humorously remarked, “I have five tickets for Anjaan—are you coming? And for Mugamoodi, I have three tickets—will you come for that at least?” When the other person asks who he is, he cheekily replies, “It’s Dhananjayan.” Balaji didn’t just mock the movies but also targeted the producers behind them. Now, however, he’s calling on political netizens to refrain from causing uproar over films.

Badmouthing Rajinikanth

There was a lot of buzz in the months before Rajinikanth announced his political entry in December 2017. RJ Balaji, who had hogged the limelight in the Jallikattu protest by making cringeworthy speeches in Marina Beach, commented about Rajinikanth’s age and declared that he won’t be able to do much in politics.

RJ Balaji said, “I’ve been waiting for 25 years for Rajinikanth to enter politics. I have lost my patience now. If I ask my 65-year-old father-in-law to do ten things, he can do only two. He had no strength in body or mind to do more than that. So, my father-in-law spends his time playing with his grandchildren. I am not talking about the embarrassment of Rajinikanth entering politics. But what kind of projects can Tamil Nadu expect from him? I guess we can’t expect much from him now. Laura was a great cricketer. But can he play like that now? So is Rajini’s politics.”

Again, in 2022, at an event held at a private college in Chennai, RJ Balaji sparked controversy by criticizing Rajinikanth’s films for their ‘wrong’ portrayal of women.

Balaji pointed out that the 1992 film Mannan depicts Vijayashanthi, a successful businesswoman, as arrogant and negative, while Khushbu, who plays a homemaker, is shown positively. He also criticized Padayappa (1999) for portraying Soundarya, a gentle, housework-focused character, favourably while casting Ramya Krishnan’s Neelambari, an educated and independent woman, in a negative role. Balaji emphasized the need for films to evolve in how they represent strong, independent women.

Jealous Much? RJ Balaji Mocked Sivakarthikeyan

Similarly, actor Sivakarthikeyan became a target of mockery from RJ Balaji. Back then, Sivakarthikeyan was under intense pressure from the producers he worked with, who had placed several hurdles in releasing his subsequent film. At the audio launch of his film Remo and in a few other stages, he had become emotional. However, RJ Balaji chose to make fun of Sivakarthikeyan crying and later apparently apologized for his comments.

Mocking Actor Satheesh

RJ Balaji engaged in a public spat and unwarrantedly mocked actor Satheesh who also does comedy roles in movies.

One of the Twitterati had asked RJ Balaji about his favourite comedian to which he replied sarcastically “Satish ! Plz trust me .!” with a wink smiley.

Satish befittingly replied to the actor by pointing out his cringe-worthy woke speech he made on the last day of Jallikattu.

Retorting, he again made a condescending comment about Satheesh’s acting as a comedian, saying, “Nice punch! It would be good if you put half the comic effort in your movies.”

RJ Balaji came under much fire from netizens for his egoistic comments.

Once again, RJ Balaji got away with an apology.

From this, we can conclude that RJ Balaji, who mocks talents that rise from humble beginnings, cannot tolerate such success. He ridicules individuals like Sivakarthikeyan, a VJ, or Rajinikanth, a bus conductor. He mocks them for pride, only to offer a simple apology later and gain popularity through his mockery. Meanwhile, he supports untalented nepotists like actor Suriya yet hypocritically preaches nepotism. Such hypocrisy can be attributed to RJ Balaji, who chooses to drag others down to reach the top by pandering to the wealthy.

RJ Balaji Simping For Actor Suriya

During the audio launch of Kanguva, co-actor Bose Venkat, in an enthusiastic mood, suggested that Suriya should enter politics. He cited the example of actor Vijay, who started his political party, TVK. RJ Balaji, who was on stage then, supported Suriya. He claimed that the actor was already a politician by simping for his attention with his social service. However, in a later interview, RJ Balaji contradicted himself by criticizing his co-actor Bose Venkat for his remarks.

RJ Balaji stated, “A few moments ago, Bose Venkat Sir said, “Suriya Sir, come into politics.” I have my opinion on this and I’d like to share it here. I’ve been a fan of Suriya Sir since my college days. A politician isn’t just someone who stands in an election. A politician is also the person who, with a group of four, lifts a fallen tree. Everyone who does small acts is also a politician. In that sense, Suriya Sir has already become a politician many years ago, and that’s enough.”

In another interview, he clarified, “Suriya Sir’s fans were there, and I felt he was expressing some opinions. But I don’t think it was necessary, as everyone doesn’t have the same path. For example, like Vijay Sir does.”

 

It is noteworthy to mention that RJ Balaji will direct the wannabe pan-Indian actor Suriya’s next film, tentatively titled “Suriya 45,” produced by Dream Warrior Pictures.

RJ Balaji’s recent outburst against political netizens ironically exposes his contradictions. A man who built his career mocking films and politicians now laments the scrutiny his work faces. His history of virtue-signalling, from parroting Dravidianist talking points on GST, NEET, and demonetization to selectively targeting celebrities like Rajinikanth, Sivakarthikeyan, and Satheesh, highlights his double standards. Balaji’s selective outrage, willingness to pivot for personal gain, and eagerness to criticize others while shielding himself from the same reveal a pattern of opportunism rather than principle. As he steps into the role of directing Suriya’s next film, his calls for civility ring hollow, making it clear that his virtue-signalling is merely a tool for self-promotion, not genuine advocacy.

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