Image: Instagram/@actorsuriya
Chennai: A court in Chennai has ordered police to book ace Tamil actor Surya, his wife Jyothika and director Gnanavel for alleged misrepresentation of the Vanniyar community in the critically acclaimed Surya starrer "Jai Bhim". A Vanniyar group Rudra Vanniyar Sena had approached the court after months of the movie's release, alleging that the film was out of "Vanniyar phobia" and was intended to incite communal violence between communities, The News Minute reported.
The petitioners approached the Chennai Saidapet court last November, seeking legal action, citing that the movie features several scenes that show the community in a bad light and mentions names of antagonists who represent their community. The court listed the case for hearing on April 29, 2022.
The court, noting that certain cognizable offences were disclosed by the complaint and prima facie a case made out, forwarded the complaint to the Inspector of police in Velachery to register an FIR, naming the three as accused. Further hearing on the matter is posted on May 20.
A controversy broke after Anbumani Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) alleged that the movie was a deliberate attack on the Vanniyar community, citing that a brutal Sub-Inspector featured in the film was an insult to the community.
The Vanniyar Sangam later took up the thread and alleged that the movie tarnished the community's reputation. The film intentionally defamed members of the community, they had alleged. After Vanniyar Sangam's objection, a symbol representing their community was removed from the movie, but they later contented that many had already watched it, and the community's reputation got dented.
They had sent a legal notice to the filmmakers and sought an unconditional apology. They also sought to remove the community's symbol from the movie and a payment of Rs 5 crore for damages, TNM reports.
Jai Bhim told the story of how lower caste communities were being mistreated, tortured, killed in custody etc., by the police over false cases. It is produced by 2D Entertainment, owned by Surya and Jyothika.