A tweet by actor Vishal questioning the ruling party for launching a new TV Channel —News J — did not go well with pro-AIADMK netizens. They have been trolling the actor who recently forayed into television by hosting a show on Sun TV. The ruling AIADMK’s 24 hours Tamil TV channel News J was launched on Wednesday by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy CM O. Paneerselvam ahead of byelections to 20 Assembly seats to use it for their party propaganda as their yesteryear mouthpiece Jaya TV is now controlled by rival Sasikala group.
Vishal questioned AIADMK MLAs and MPs as to how they managed to start a channel, which costs a bomb, when they receive monthly salaries. He quipped on the popular platform that “another news channel starting up. Wow! I heard it costs a bomb to start a news channel. How do u guys as Mlas n mps getting monthly salary come up wit such a business module. Waiting for 2019.”
Reportedly, it was Chief Minister Palaniswami’s earlier remarks while addressing a press conference at Coimbatore in connection with AIADMK cadres who protested the release of Vijay’s Sarkar that drove Vishal to raise his voice against the launch of a new channel by the political party. The Chief Minister, while questioning the source of funding for the film, had reportedly asked, “they spend Rs 300-Rs 500 crore to produce a film, where does this money come from?”
Vishal
The CM had also accused actors of nurturing political ambitions to mislead people for their own gains. “For one film, they command a salary of Rs 50 to Rs 100 crore. How much have they spent on people?” he asked.
When cinema is considered as one of the important businesses in Tamil Nadu, this comment by the CM raised many eyebrows in the film industry.
Even Superstar Rajinikanth gave a retort recently when a reporter queried him about Palaniswami’s statement. He said, “ Yes, actors are earning in crores, but we pay income tax properly for what we earn. If at all anything has to be asked, only they can question and not others.”
However, the Avan Ivan star was trolled with many replies stating that he better take care of Producers Council and Nadigar Sangam properly before passing comments on others.
Ganesh said, “You are doing a program on Sun TV. Have you ever thought how Suntv had huge no of channels? Suntv, sunlife, ktv, sun music, sun news and many regional channels?”.
Yet another netizen advised Vishal. “Go ask this to Sun TV and Kalaignar TV.” Cibi enquired, “This question never arose when Sun TV, Kalaiganar TV, Captain TV and MDMK started their own channels. Now why when AIADMK begins theirs?”
Manoj Kumar tweeted, “ADMK has 3000 plus General Council Members Rs 5000 × Rs 3000 - 1.5 crores! And It consists of Executive council members, Lakhs of Party subordinates!! Every Drop of Water makes a Mighty Ocean”
“When #Kamalhassan once said the producers are paying hefty amount to get U Certificate and when the media asked about that to you, #Vishal said NO COMMENTS. So Public is fully aware of YOUR PUBLICITY NUISANCE. So PLEASE STOP YOUR SAVIOUR PERSONA,” posted Vijay Fans Club Salem.
Positive Vibes said, “Mr Vishal, all the major regional parties are running Tv channels, but not everyone are Mla & Mps. U ask them too, where does the money comes for them too. When they are running d media, why not d ruling party? Velicham, Mathimugam,Tamilan, pls see their background”.
The leggy actor’s nomination to contest in RK Nagar constituency last year was rejected by Election Commission on the grounds that he had only eight proposers - two less than the number required.
When contacted an unruffled Vishal said, “I am a taxpayer and I have every right to ask questions. I heard every year at least Rs 30 crore is required to run a television channel. I wish they (AIADMK MLAS and MPs) showed the source of income. I want to know from where they got this huge amount of money to start a channel?”
On people trolling him the Producers Council head said, “I love it! To each, their own! They don’t affect me. Just because they are trolling, I won’t stop asking questions. I am eagerly waiting for 2019 elections.” This means the dusky actor is likely to jump into the political fray in the forthcoming elections, but not without precautions. Once bitten twice shy.
