Tamil cinema’s acclaimed director Mari Selvaraj, known for his powerful storytelling, finds himself embroiled in controversy following the release of his latest film, Vaazhai. The film, which has received widespread praise and is running successfully in theatres, is now under scrutiny after Sahitya Akademi award-winning author Cho Dharman accused Selvaraj of plagiarizing his work.
Cho Dharman, a celebrated writer from Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, alleges that Vaazhai bears striking similarities to a short story he penned a decade ago, also titled similarly as Vaazhaiadi... The story, part of his Neerppazhi (Waterfall) collection of stories, revolves around the hardships faced by children working in the banana industry. This theme, he claims, is mirrored in Selvaraj’s film.
Selvaraj, who made a significant impact with his debut film Pariyerum Perumal, has quickly risen to prominence in the Tamil film industry. His latest offering, Vaazhai, features actors Kalaiyarasan, Divya Duraisamy, and Nikila Vimal and is set in Puliangulam, a village in Thoothukudi. The film portrays the laborious lives of children transporting bananas, highlighting their poverty and struggle. Despite its critical success and endorsements from leading directors like Bala, Shankar, and Mysskin, the film is now clouded by these plagiarism accusations.
‘வாழை’ திருட்டு கதையா? அட்லியை மிஞ்சிய மாரி செல்வராஜ்…“என் கதை” அடித்து சொல்லும் எழுத்தாளர்… கோலிவுட் சினிமாவில் அதிர்ச்சி!#Vaazhai #VaazhaiMovie #VaazhaiStory #MariSelvaraj #Writter #ChoDharman #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/a2cBEIMJ6V
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) August 28, 2024
Dharman shared his concerns both publicly and on social media, stating that several friends urged him to watch Vaazhai due to its resemblance to his short story. After viewing the film, Dharman expressed his shock at the similarities, noting that the narrative elements, character dynamics, and specific scenes closely match those in his short story. While acknowledging that Selvaraj might not have directly copied his work, Dharman emphasized that he was the first to capture these struggles in literature. He said, “Maybe he didn’t even read my story. He may have carried the banana load. But as the person who gave shape to the hardships that those children may face, I am the one who has full right to it,”
“I have written the story of the movie that came up 10 years ago under the name of Vaazhaiadi… My story and the film tell one thing: how the hard labour of boys carrying the bananas are exploited,” Dharman said. He also highlighted that his story included the same plot points as the film, except for a few additional elements created for cinematic effect.
Dharman took to Facebook to express his thoughts further, posting a link to his original short story and reflecting on how his work, despite being written a decade earlier, has only now gained wider recognition through its adaptation to cinema.
Mari Selvaraj wrote on his Facebook “I just read a short story written by author So Dharman on banana load lifting workers. Here’s the banana short story. Everyone must read this story… Author Cho. Thank you Mr Dharman”
(With inputs from OneIndia Tamil)
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