The controversy around the erection of late Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s statue at Salem Modern Theatres is gaining momentum.
Earlier in February 2023, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took a selfie before the arch when he came for a government meeting. Chief Minister Stalin’s “fond memories” of the location, shared on social media during his visit, prompted him to initiate discussions with Modern Theatres family who claim ownership of the land.
The victim, Modern Theatres’ family, states that they have not decided on installing the statue. They accuse District Collector Karmegam and government officials of undertaking “anarchic activities” without their approval. The family is calling for urgent intervention by the Chief Minister to protect their rights, highlighting the ongoing discussions regarding the installation of the Karunanidhi statue.
Speaking to the media, Vijay Varman said, “On 15 February 2023, our TN Chief Minister took a selfie, you may have seen it. It was evening, around 530pm, he took the selfie. That night at around 11.30 PM, the district collector sent me a message on WhatsApp, which said “Hi, CM wants to meet you.” We met the CM. He asked me if I was ready to give away the land. I replied to him saying, I have to discuss it with my family and let you know. He asked me if I had any interest in the design of the arch. The District Collector called me home. Only at that time he clearly told me that they had an idea of erecting the statue of Karunanidhi on the interface of the arch.”
When asked if he had any idea about the purpose of the statue, he said, “The collector openly told me that they wanted to erect Karunanidhi’s statue there.”
He added, “On 1 December 2023, officials from the revenue department, corporation, Highways dept, all together came and surveyed the premises and locked the gates and left. The next day, they opened the gates and without my permission, the Highways department started demolishing. I never thought that this would escalate into such a big problem and receive so many threats and torture.”
முதல்வர் ஆசைப்படுகிறார் என்பதற்காக ஒட்டுமொத்த அரசு நிர்வாகமும் ஒரு தனி நபரை பழிவாங்குகிறது.
அடுத்தவன் சொத்தை அநியாயமாக அடித்து பிடுங்குவது நியாயமா முதல்வரே ? pic.twitter.com/BYuY9FJzYG
— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) December 15, 2023
In light of this standoff between owners of Modern Theatre and DMK, the hashtag #செல்பி_எடு_ஆட்டைய_போடு (Take Selfie, Grab It) is trending on social media.
Established by T.R. Sundaram in 1935, Modern Theatres stands prominently on the road from Salem to Yercaud, holding the title of South India’s inaugural major cinema establishment. The Modern Theatres Cinema Company, with a legacy spanning over 150 films in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and more, is particularly notable for producing the first-ever colour film.
Playing a pivotal role in the careers of influential personalities such as former Chief Ministers Karunanidhi and MGR, along with actor Shivaji Ganesan, Modern Theatres has left an indelible mark on Tamil cinema. The studio’s impact is undeniable, serving as a crucial juncture in the trajectories of these prominent leaders.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.