In a stark public accusation, former actress and political figure Gautami has stated that the Tamil film industry is currently in the “grip of the DMK family,” citing this as the primary reason for her absence from Tamil cinema.
Outlining a comprehensive system of control, Gautami claimed the ruling party’s influence extends across the entire film ecosystem. “The entire industry is in the grip of the DMK family,” she stated. “There are right from several production companies that are either producing or buying up films under production, who are contracting with stars and actors to be bound to them for a certain number of productions, right through to the distribution networks again which are under their control, the theaters which are under their control.”
The actress, who has been openly critical of the DMK and aligned with the BJP earlier and now with the AIADMK, directly linked her political stance to her professional exile. She explained that given she has been “diametrically opposite” to the DMK politically and ideologically, “it stands to reason that there are going to be certain doors that are either shut or certain doors that I would not want to knock on.”
Despite the current climate, Gautami expressed optimism for a near-future return. “I am very confident that very soon I will be back in Tamil cinema,” she said, predicting that such a return would coincide with the industry “breathing a deep sigh of relief” and the restoration of “oxygen and creativity and free enterprise” to Tamil films.
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