Actor Sivakarthikeyan attended a Pongal celebration at the residence of Union Minister L. Murugan on Wednesday afternoon, amid ongoing discussion surrounding his latest Tamil political action drama Parasakthi.

Speaking to ANI at the event, Sivakarthikeyan extended his festival wishes and spoke about the importance of positivity. “Happy Pongal to everyone. Tamil people worldwide are celebrating. Let positivity spread among us,” he said.

The appearance comes at a time when Parasakthi has been in the spotlight following objections raised by the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress. The group had earlier sought a ban on the film, alleging that it distorts historical facts and maligns the Indian National Congress (INC) and its leaders.

In addition to the political objections, the film has also faced what supporters describe as slander on online platforms such as X, where several users have been posting negative reviews and critical commentary about the movie. These posts have circulated widely since the film’s release, adding to the debate around Parasakthi on social media.

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Responding to the criticism, Sivakarthikeyan dismissed suggestions of controversy surrounding the film. He said audiences who watch the film in its entirety understand its message. “There is no controversy. People are understanding it and taking it in the right way, and what we intended is reaching the people. If they watch the film completely, they will understand,” he said.

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Actor Ravi Mohan, who also stars in the film and attended the Pongal celebration, echoed similar sentiments, urging viewers to see cinema purely as entertainment. “People will say whatever they think, but as far as cinema is concerned, it is a medium of entertainment, so let us leave it at that. Leave the politics out of it. The audience wants entertainment after all the stress they go through. Let us not put this film through stress; it is just for entertainment,” he said.

Written and directed by Sudha Kongara, Parasakthi stars Sivakarthikeyan alongside Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa and Sreeleela in key roles. Set against a strong political backdrop, the film focuses on Tamil Nadu’s resistance to Hindi imposition.

After facing several censorship-related issues, Parasakthi was released in theatres on 10 January 2026.