“Prabhakaran” may light the fuse

"Reason, some portions of the film are said to be against the goodwill and spirit of the Tamils, their Tamil language and an anti-LTTE stance as well." (More pics inside)

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by R Gomathy Sankaravel

(March 30, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Chief Minister M Karunanidhi may face difficulty over the controversial yet-to-be-released Sri Lankan film Prabhakaran.

Such difficulty comes when politicos expect ‘heated’ arguments between PMK and DMK on various issues in the ongoing Assembly session in the State.

Reason, some portions of the film are said to be against the goodwill and spirit of the Tamils, their Tamil language and an anti-LTTE stance as well.

It may be noted that a group belonging to the Tamil Protection Movement, formed by PMK and VCK chiefs, allegedly tried to attack Lankan filmmaker Thushara Peiris, who was recently in Chennai in connection with his film.

But the group clarified that they only warned the director for anything that could be taken as anti-LTTE in the film.

It is said a team comprising Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol Thirumavalavan, his functionary Vanniyarasu, director Seeman, Dravidar Iyakka Tamilar Peravai president Suba Veerapandian met the Chief Minister in this regard.

According to a website which gave the synopsis of the film, the film portrays a conflict over a discussion on a suicide- bomber who escapes from the clutches of the LTTE and how the bomber is being pushed to that point.

Thushara Peiris, in an interview, had disclosed that ‘I wanted to look at terrorism from the point of view of a democratic government. My main idea was to convey that we can solve our problem ourselves. We can decide whether we need the war or not. After talking to many of the LTTE cadres who had quit the organisation, I realised that its lower rung cadres do not want the war. Anyway my film is not going to express any viewpoint or extreme ideologies. And at the same time I will not betray my country or my people’.


PMK and VCK chiefs who have watched the movie are likely to raise strong objections. And it remains to be seen how Karunanidhi would react to it.

If he shows concern for the so-called controversial portions of the film, it would amount to supporting the LTTE otherwise he may be seen as someone not supporting the cause of Lankan Tamils. A hot session, indeed it would be!

Meanwhile, a Congress leader Ilayankudi S Shabir Ali lodged a complaint with the Chennai Commissioner of Police Nanchil Kumaran to take action against director Seeman, Dravidar Iyakka Tamilar Peravai president Suba Veerapandian and VCK functionary Vanniyarasu for opposing the film as it would amount to supporting the terrorist outfit.

‘If police failed to act, then we would organise a hunger strike in front of the police chief’s office on 29 March,’ he said.(27-03-2008)
- Sri Lanka Guardian