CHENNAI: Political leaders on the direct line of fire from the two top stars in Tamil cinema, Vijay and Kamal Haasan, have hit back on expected lines-questioning their credentials to raise issues of probity and public service. Heavier gunpowder was reserved for the cannon aimed at popular hero Vijay as it was he who hogged the headlines with his stinging indictment of the State Government in the backdrop of heavy speculation that he is all set to take the political plunge in time for the 2021 Assembly elections.
“Vijay is speaking like this only to draw attention in the hope that this will help in the gate collections of his movie”, said AIADMK spokesperson Vaigai Chelvan. “He thinks his movie will run well if he creates this sort of excitement by making provocative statements at the audio release”.
Hitting high decibels, AIADMK functionary Ms Maheswari declared in a TV debate-it was over the political quake caused by Vijay's 'Bigil' rhetoric--that the hero has always resorted to such gimmicks only to garner publicity whenever his new film got released. “He tries to show off that only actors have social responsibility while the politician is the villain. Actors can speak politics but should be half-baked in making their statements. How can these people be role models when they indulge in tax evasion?”
The AIADMK attack on actors speaking on social issues had its sharp reaction from Kollywood, with producers and directors joining hands in stout defense. “It's wrong to say that actors must remain in film studios. They are citizens too and will raise socially relevant and important issues, which must not be dismissed as irrelevant and inappropriate,”, said 'Rasi' Alagappan, director.
Needless to say the DMK is pretty happy at the 'Bigil' hero's “brave attack” on the ruling party and the government. “Vijay has spoken boldly to bring out the truth. We welcome this. The government has taken action against the printer of the killer banner while the AIADMK man responsible for placing it on the road remains scot free”, said party propaganda secretary Thanga Tamilselvan.
