A fresh political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over an upcoming film starring Jr NTR. Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman has demanded that the yet-to-go-on-floors project be banned in the state, accusing its makers of distorting Tamil cultural history.
The promotional line that sparked the row
The controversy centres on the film’s promotional tagline: “Born in the North. Forged in the Heartland. Worshipped in the South. Now… A tale destined to belong to the universe.” Many observers in Tamil Nadu interpreted the line as suggesting that Lord Muruga was born in northern India. This interpretation has drawn criticism because it conflicts with the widely held belief among many Tamils that the deity’s origins are rooted in Tamil land.
In a lengthy post on social media, Seeman said Tamil people would not remain silent if their cultural identity was altered for commercial gain. He urged the filmmakers to avoid any narrative suggesting that Muruga was born in northern India, describing it as “a fictional claim dressed up as art.” He also warned of consequences if the makers proceeded with such a portrayal.
Call for protests
Seeman went on to urge theatre owners across Tamil Nadu to “collectively refuse to screen the film” if it is released with the disputed narrative intact. He said that if theatres did not act voluntarily, his party would organise “large-scale protests to stop the film from being shown anywhere in the state.”
He also appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to deny permission for both the Tamil and Telugu versions of the film to be screened. According to Seeman, the film’s alleged portrayal could hurt Tamil sentiments and potentially lead to law-and-order issues if released in its current form.
Neither Jr NTR nor the film’s production team has publicly responded to the controversy. The project is directed by Trivikram Srinivas and is expected to go on floors in early 2027.
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