Why Kollywood is cautious of expressing their views on Tamil Nadu politics

After Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy, a proxy of VK Sasikala, won the confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Kollywood has turned cautious. It was only a couple of days earlier that we saw Tamil actors and industry patrons express their views openly on the Jalikattu agitation.

Leading the pack was Kamal Haasan, who made national headlines with his open support to the O Panneerselvam group in the tussle for supremacy within the AIADMK.  The tweets of Kamal Haasan, Arvind Swamy, Siddharth, Raghava Lawrence and to a certain extent Suriya, were bitter about the Sasikala group’s aggressive ways to capture power.

Kamal Haasan,  in an interview to NDTV , described the State government as “a criminal conglomerate.” He also said in the interview – “People were angry and would revolt if there was an ‘orchestrated lathi charge’.”

Kamal’s tweets also became popular on social media —  “ There you go. Seems like we have another CM.  Jai de-mockcrazy. People of Tamizhnadu, Welcome your respective MLAs with the respect they deserve back home. Kamal Haasan tweeted the official mail id of Tamil Nadu governor and asked people to write their dissatisfaction with proper respect.”  Kamal also tweeted:  “You should write with respect, its Governor’s mail and not legislative assembly”.

There you go. Seems like we have another CM. Jai de-mockcrazy

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 18, 2017

People of Tamizhnadu, Welcome your respective MLAs with the respect they desrve back home

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 18, 2017

Tweets from Arvind Swamy and Siddharth also were anti state government.

Arvind Swami said, “None will accept a vote of confidence if the MLAs don’t represent the ppl’s views. For that they have to meet people, not party in a resort. Without exaggeration, I have not come across a single person in all my interactions in the last one week who supports this administration”.

None will accept a vote of confidence if the MLAs don't represent the ppl's views. For that they have to meet people, not party in a resort

— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017

It's a pity that there is a media blackout of the assembly sessions and only selective footage is released. Ppl have a right 2 c proceedings

— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017

If true democracy can be protected in an undemocratic manner, are we to feel happy or sad? Is the million $ question. Opinions pl -

— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017

In my opinion, The only solution that is acceptable under the circumstances is a re- election. This is not the people's mandate.

— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017

Without exaggeration, I have not come across a single person in all my interactions in the last one week who supports this administration.

— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017

Siddharth also tweeted about the matter, “Let even children see, hear and learn what is happening in the assembly in TN. Make them understand. Shameful days for democracy!”

An actor like Suriya, who keeps away from politics, tweeted in Tamil -  “Friends, it’s us who are eating mixture now”.

இப்போது மிக்சர் சாப்பிட்டுக் கொண்டிருப்பது நாம் தான் நண்பர்களே....

— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) February 18, 2017

It is obviously a reference to the defeat of OPS in the trust vote. Earlier, meme creators trolled CM Paneerselvam for being silent during the Jallikattu issue and compared him to the mixture eating guy in the famous Nattamai comedy.

But other top actors and industry veterans are keeping away from making any sarcastic remarks about VK Sasikala or her proxy chief minister EPS.

A top producer said told Firstpost, “ Why should you get into unnecessary trouble. The Sasikala family still controls the key distribution and exhibition business. She may be in jail, but it looks like the Palanisamy government would last for some time. At the moment box-office is at an all time low, and its better we play safe without rubbing the family the wrong way. ”

Meanwhile, a little known political outfit called India Thesiya League has filed a police complaint stating that Kamal Haasan’s recent tweets provoke general public against AIADMK MLAS. They want the EPS government to take action against Kamal Haasan for provoking violence.

During the Jayalalithaa regime it was small unknown fringe parties which caused maximum damage to Kollywood. They were able to stop the release of Kamal Haasan’s Viswaroopam and Vijay’s Thalaiva. Both these films released in Tamil Nadu two weeks after their worldwide release.

The current AIADMK government feels Kamal Haasan and few actors are trying to fish in troubled waters.