In the name of movie promotions, creating controversies has become normal in the Tamil cinema industry. However, international drug peddler Jaffer Sadiq’s bestie, Ameer Sultan, has taken it a step further by not only ridiculing and threatening the ruling DMK government but also strongly asserting that the epic ‘Ramayana‘ is a divisive series that should not be broadcast in Tamil Nadu on Sun TV.
In a recent interview on the Fourth Estate Tamil YouTube channel, hosted by Arunmozhi Varman, director Ameer stirred controversy while promoting his upcoming film ‘Uyir Thamizhukku.’ When asked about the lack of Dravidian ideology-based movies recently from the Dravidian organisations, Ameer responded by welcoming the criticism. He argued that the DMK rose to power through Karunanidhi’s writing, oratory skills, and promotion of Dravidian ideology. He further claimed that both the Dravidian parties and Seeman’s Tamil nationalism efforts have fallen short. Ameer suggested that the DMK has not upheld Karunanidhi’s legacy, and critiqued Seeman for not producing a substantial body of work over his 10-year career, epic dramas like the Ramayana would not had the same impact.
Advising Seeman, Ameer stated, “Even if you were not able to do it yourself, how Karunanidhi was able to write the script for 70 years, using his influence and people around him? Asks others to take films (with your story and dialoges). Had he (Seeman) done like that, that politics would’ve had its reach. When that politics is here, the series you’re saying (Ramayana) can do no harm here.”
Thus, both Dravidian organizations and Seeman failed in promoting their politics through the film, Ameer asserted.
Interestingly, Ameer didn’t mention names like Ramayana (used ‘that series’) or the DMK. This appears to be a a new technique employed by Dravidianists to avoid controversy and legal proceedings. Ameer further noted recent shifts in the narrative and ideology of national films, questioning why movies like ‘Adipurush’ are being produced. He also highlighted that ‘The Kerala Story’ has become a topic of discussion in recent election rallies.
Arunmozhi Varman asked about the criticism placed on the DMK that despite of having enormous power they are telecasting Ramayan. In response Ameer stated, “In countries like India cinema is the biggest tool. As such, opinion can be changed, and fascist forces are changing opinion. Why is Adipurush coming? Let it come. Now the Prime Minister has come to discuss movies in the elections. Where does the need to talk about the ‘Kerala Story’ in Karnataka elections come from? Because it creates impact. In recent days, if you see web series many movies related to patriotism is coming like military related and more in Hindi, they are increasing the patriotism. It is a politics”.
Further ridiculing the DMK, Ameer questioned, “What are you going to achieve by purchasing someone’s film, which is essentially garbage? What’s the profit in that?”
Additionally, he criticized DMK for airing the Ramayana on Sun TV, “You stated a series (Ramayana) now. Instead of putting that series, can’t you take Dravidian movement history series? You have all diverse financial background. Instead of taking that (Dravidian movement history), you’re picking this (Ramayana) up? Is it new? It has already been aired on Doordarshan right? Even then in the morning people looked at it by lighting Sambrani and Agarbatti right. What new thing are you bringing? That is how this politics (Hindutva) was completely imposed in North India. That time Congress was in power. It should be well understood. Rajiv Gandhi has done it inadvertently. Because they took that politics, these people have came to power. Now if you (Sun TV) bring it (Ramayana series) up, I say you have no understanding of politics.”
Finally, Ameer issued a warning to the ruling DMK government, stating that by promoting the epic ‘Ramayana’, the DMK is risking the loss of minority votes. He suggested that the portrayal of Ram’s worship has cast Muslims in a negative light. He sated, “Without releasing Murugaatrupadai, Meenakshi, Sokkar series, (Lord Ram) that which divides the nation, that which divided and continues to divide and succeeds to win. If you are going to put a series that have turned a community into a criminal community to establish a temple, it just means you don’t understand politics. It means you are standing at the verge of failure. You’re going to lose yourself.”
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