Kamal Haasan's 'Sandiyar' title sparks fresh row; Krishnasamy urges Tamil Nadu to ban it

Chennai: Puthiya Tamilagam party founder K Krishnasamy on Wednesday intensified his opposition to actor Kamal Haasan's upcoming film title, 'Sandiyar'.

He said that while Tamil Nadu has the potential to create engineers, doctors, lawyers, IT professionals, and good entrepreneurs, the actor is attempting to produce rowdies through his movies.

Addressing reporters after submitting a petition to Minister A Rajmohan at the Secretariat, Krishnasamy urged the state government not to permit the film's title.

He accused Haasan of using the name 'Sandiyar' to "sow seeds of violence and foster enmity in Tamil Nadu."

Krishnasamy said through his films, Haasan wants to create an illusion for his fans that it's enough if one becomes a 'Sandiyar'.

"He is producing Sandiyars; he is carrying a fascination to produce Sandiyars," Krishnasamy added.

The friction over the 'Sandiyar' title dates back to 2003, when Haasan announced his directorial venture under the same name. At the time, Krishnasamy and other groups from southern Tamil Nadu launched massive protests, arguing that the term glorified a specific caste's thuggery and would incite violence.

Following the intervention of then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Haasan dropped the title, and the 2004 cult classic was ultimately released as 'Virumaandi'.

Krishnasamy highlighted contradictions in the movie's promotional material.

He noted that while the actor previously posed with sickles for the initial 2003 announcement of the film, the current portrayal shows two people offering flowers but includes a caption suggesting that revenge can only be settled in blood.

Drawing parallels to the past, he recalled the release of Haasan's 1993 film 'Thevar Magan'.

He alleged that a specific song from that movie triggered caste clashes in southern Tamil Nadu that persisted for 10 to 15 years, warning that the current title could have similar violent repercussions.

Stating that the title promotes a culture of thuggery, Krishnasamy demanded a complete ban, adding that nobody should be allowed to use this name.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Mathrubhumi and is published from a syndicated feed.)