A recent statement by director Praveen Gandhi has stirred controversy in the Tamil film industry. He expressed his frustration, claiming that Tamil cinema has weakened following the rise of filmmakers like Pa Ranjith and Vetrimaaran. Pa Ranjith, who was criticised as a cultural scandal by the Tamil Nadu government’s Happy Street program, has directed a film called Kulanthai C/O Goundampalayam. At the music launch of actor Ranjith’s film in Chennai, director Praveen Gandhi and others voiced their concerns. Praveen Gandhi also said that those who talk about caste in cinema should be excluded. Ranjith countered the statement and gave a sudden twist, saying that if a film is made about caste, it will be good for society. Praveen Gandhi said, “I’ve always given statements against those directors who make caste films.Caste should never be spoken about. Nobody knows the caste of the person sitting here.”
Speaking further, Praveen Gandhi said that caste-based issues should not be created by taking what happened in history as a film. He also said that actor Ranjith is trying to extinguish the fire without blowing it out. He also warned against distorting history under the guise of abolishing caste. At the same time, he stressed that directors should not become traders based on caste. Speaking not only aggressively but also animatedly, he criticised the ever-smiling actor Ranjith as Ambala Sneha.
Praveen Gandhi’s comments on the caste have sparked a huge debate on social media. In response to the controversy, director Vetrimaaran emphasised the prevalence of caste oppression and inequality in India. He said, “If someone says that there is no caste oppression in India, he does not know where he is living. There is caste oppression and inequality all over India.”
In this matter, Hindu Munnani took to X to praise Praveen Gandhi and wrote, “In Tamil cinema, which talks about caste divisions and sows anti-Hindu ideas, directors like Praveen Gandhi talking like this is beneficial for our society.”
Praveen Gandhi is a Tamil film director and actor, known for his films like Jodi, Puli Paarvai, Thullal, and more.
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