Chennai: Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics have been intertwined for decades now, particularly on volatile socio-political issues; so it came as no surprise when the film stars led by Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan sat in protest at Valluvar Kottam on Cauvery and Sterlite on Sunday.
Perhaps not satisfied with the decibel levels there, another Kollywood group, mostly comprising directors and including actor Sathyaraj, held a press conference on Cauvery and the IPL, at the Press Club here on Monday.
Announcing the launch of ‘Tamilar Kalai Ilakkiya Panbaadu Amaippu’ to take up various Tamil causes, director R.K.Selvamani urged for unification of all the parties and social groups under the banner “to ensure success”.
Director Ameer said the Centre had violated the Constitution of India by not obeying the Supreme Court order of February 16 to form the Cauvery Monitoring Board (CMB) within six weeks. “The Centre has sought from the Supreme Court saying CMB formation would create law and order problems in poll-bound Karnataka. What that means is that there will be no problem in Tamil Nadu because we Tamils are shameless people”, he said.
Leading the tirade, celebrated filmmaker Bharatiraja called for postponement of IPL matches as they would “divert” the prevailing “awakening” among the youth in Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery issue. “Tamil Nadu is boiling...we are not saying there is no need for IPL.. Please postpone (the matches). IPL will divert the awakening among the youth over Cauvery issue,” he said.
Before driving over for the Valluvar Kottam star-protest on Sunday, Rajinikanth had told reporters outside his Poes Garden bungalow that holding IPL matches now amid all this agitation for Cauvery would be an embarrassment. The IPL organizers should understand the people’s sentiment and scrap the Chennai fixtures. Otherwise, the CSK players could wear black bands while playing and the spectators could come dressed in black, he said.
