It is the turn of actor Karthi to suffer from the kind of trouble artistes run into. Many actors have gone through the experience of coming under the scanner of the moral police. Carnatic musicians too have faced the wrath of the #MeToo movement.
Self-styled patrons of Hindu culture and traditions are also building into a group with a voice nowadays. It is learnt that the shooting of actor Karthi’s upcoming film at Malaikottai in Dindigul with the title of Sultan was stalled on Tuesday by Hindu Munnani, Hindu Makkal Katchi and Shiv Sena members who created ruckus. They were objecting to the film which they assumed was on ‘Tipu Sultan’ and was being shot in a Hindu temple.
They raised slogans and shouted to stop the shoot as they said the 18th century ruler Tipu Sultan had attacked Tamils during his rule. The situation was brought under control after police arrived at the spot and mediated in the talks between the protesters and the filmmakers. shooting had, however, come to a halt and the unit packed up for the day.
When SR Prabhu of Dream Warrior Pictures who bankrolls the film was contacted he said, “We were shooting for the last few days at Malaikottai after taking prior permission. September 24 was actually the final day of the shoot and our cast and crew were almost wrapping up the shoot when, all of a sudden, the people who are supposed to be from Hindu Munnani started protesting. It was not clear about what they were creating such a commotion. Moreover, we have not finalised the title yet. There was no clapboard or any other material, which had the alleged ‘Sultan’ title. Even assuming the title is Sultan, what’s their problem?”
The new movie of Karthi is being directed by Bhagyaraj Kannan of Remo fame and has Tollywood actress Rashmika Mandana romancing the former.
One may recall a few years ago how Superstar Rajinikanth was intimidated and warned by BJP and Hindu Munnani leaders not to accept a film even before he was approached to don the role of Tipu Sultan. They claimed that Tipu was a tyrant and a communal ruler and said no Tamil actor should be part of a film on him.
