Social media platforms are currently inundated with memes and trolls targeting filmmaker Mari Selvaraj for his recent remarks, branding the acclaimed movie “Thevar Magan” as a casteist film.
The director of the upcoming Tamil-language political thriller “Maamannan” has been facing severe criticism for what many perceive as hypocrisy in his definition of caste and his actions in reality.
During the audio launch of his film, Mari Selvaraj made a controversial statement, describing Kamal Haasan’s “Thevar Magan” as a movie that propagates caste discrimination. However, his remarks were met with swift backlash from Kamal Haasan fans who argued that “Thevar Magan” primarily revolves around an internal dispute within a family of the same caste, without any derogatory references to other castes.
Adding fuel to the fire, old videos of Mari Selvaraj defining caste have resurfaced and are going viral on social media. In one particular interview from three years ago, the director provided his own interpretation of caste, stating, “If I show my authority over my wife, that is caste. The authority one possesses that allows one to suppress another person, knowing that the person cannot retaliate, is what I consider caste. For example, if I beat my assistant knowing he cannot hit me back, that is caste.”
These very words of Mari Selvaraj has now come back to haunt him, as netizens highlight instances of Mari Selvaraj allegedly practicing the very “caste oppression” he denounces.
Several actors who have worked with the director have come forward in interviews, revealing instances of physical abuse on set. Thangarasu, known for his role as Pariyan’s father in “Pariyerum Perumal,” disclosed in an interview that Mari Selvaraj slapped him for missing a dialogue.
Actor Marimuthu also shared his experience, recounting how Mari Selvaraj made Kathir run barefoot through a thorn-filled forest for a movie scene, causing him to bleed. Marimuthu further revealed that the director instructed co-actors to beat Kathir in reality for a scene, and those who refused to comply were beaten by Mari Selvaraj himself.
Even Udhayanithi Stalin, who has worked with Mari Selvaraj, acknowledged in an interview that the director had physically assaulted his assistant directors.
பைனலி திஸ் சாதி ஜைக்கோ…. pic.twitter.com/EDcq44Dnmx
— புலிவெட்டி சித்தர் (@puliv12) June 22, 2023
The circulation of these interviews on social media has led to widespread questioning of Mari Selvaraj’s hypocrisy, as his own actions appear to contradict his professed beliefs about caste. Critics argue that the director’s behavior aligns with his definition of caste, as he physically abuses his assistants and actors while wielding his authority over them.
Additionally, a YouTube channel known as Poli Talks, which specializes in debunking falsehoods and exposing hypocrisies related to Dravidian ideology, criticized Mari Selvaraj by compiling and sharing the aforementioned videos. However, the channel’s videos critiquing the director were subsequently taken down for unknown reasons, though they had already been downloaded and circulated by social media users.
மாரி செல்வராஜின் பேச்சை வைத்து அவரின் வண்டவாளங்களைத் தோலுறித்த போது.
Courtesy: @PolitalksTamil pic.twitter.com/FBtMKTHkhf
— Skm (@vasudevakudumba) June 25, 2023
With the release of “Maamannan” just three days away, social media users continue to highlight the alleged hypocrisy of director Mari Selvaraj, shedding light on the disparities between his statements and actions. The controversy surrounding him has intensified, generating fervent discussions online.
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