The Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP has scored a self-goal by its opposition to the movie Mersal starring Joseph Vijay, one of the superstars of Kollywood. The movie released for Diwali with ‘UA’ gradation by the Censor Board features certain anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) dialogues and also certain comments critical of the Union Government and medical doctors. Interestingly, the movie was cleared by a committee featuring BJP leaders themselves.
Following the release of the movie, Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, especially State unit chief Tamilissai Sounderarajan started attacking the movie makers and Vijay. “They have used the movie as a propaganda vehicle against the BJP Government. This is highly objectionable,” Sounderarajan, a medical doctor-turned-politician told reporters in Chennai. She said certain dialogues denigrating medical doctors should not have been there in the move.
H Raja, the national secretary of the BJP, made a no-holds barred attack on Vijay and his evangelist father Chandrasekhar for making use of the movie to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government. “All the dialogues about the GST, Make in India and Skill India are far from truth. They are propagating falsehoods by making use of the freedom of expression granted in the Constitution,” alleged Raja.
But Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, both aspiring politicians, extended their support to Vijay and his crew. “Don’t silence critics. India will shine when it speaks. Mersal was certified. Counter criticism with logical response,” tweeted Haasan, who does not mince his words when it comes to attack the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vanati Srinivasan, State secretary of the BJP, denied reports that her party was against freedom of expression. “let them make movies on any topic under the sun. We don’t want anybody to praise us. But they should not spread lies, misinformation and falsehoods. We welcome any kind of criticism. Please criticise us. But tell the truth,” said Srinivasan.
But the BJP has itself to blame for the present scenario, according to an official of the Central Board of Film Certification. “The movie was cleared by members who were nominated by the BJP. They did not find the dialogues objectionable. The committee which cleared the movie included senior party leaders and they found nothing wrong in the dialogues,” said the official. It is not known whether the members who cleared the dialogues were aware of what GST was, he added.