Actors who have faced trouble from politicians

With Suriya being in the midst of a political storm over Jai Bhim, which released on OTT to great acclaim but is being criticised by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) for allegedly defaming the Vanniyar community, we look at the times when our top stars have been involved in a tussle with politicians.

Criticising Rajinikanth for the smoking scenes in his films, PMK's S Ramadoss alleged that he was glorifying smoking and drinking. His party members even attacked a few theatres screening the film, took away the reels and burnt them!

Some of the party's leaders were upset with Ajith Kumar after he complained that actors were being threatened to participate in political events, in an event that the Tamil film industry was conducting to facilitate the then Chief Minister Dr M Karunanidhi. Later, after Ajith met Kalaignar in his Gopalapuram residence and explained his case, the issue was put to rest.

Despite being cleared by the Censor Board, Kamal's Vishwaroopam was not allowed to release in the state with the authorities claiming that releasing the film could lead to law and order issues after a few Muslim organisations complained that it was hurtful to their religion. The actor blamed the then Chief Minister Dr J Jayalalithaa for the controversy and also announced that he would even leave the country if his freedom was throttled. Finally, the film was allowed to release after the actor-director agreed to mute certain dialogues.

The song Oru Viral Puratchiye from Sarkar had shots of people burning the freebies offered by the government. This displeased ministers belonging to the then AIADMK government, including Kambur Raju, CV Shanmugam, D Jayakumar and VV Rajan Chellappa, who alleged that the shots insults the government. While the party's supporters vandalised a few theatres screening the film and staged protests, cops also landed up at the film's director AR Murugadoss's doorsteps. While this move received condemnation from many in the industry, the issue was resolved when the makers agreed to remove the shots from the film.

Vijay had also earned the wrath of the party's late leader Jayalalithaa in 2013 over his film Thalaivaa's tagline — Time to lead. Citing bomb threats to a few theatres, the then government did not allow the release of the film. Vijay was not even allowed to meet Jayalalithaa. It finally took a video appeal from the star, requesting the CM's help, for the film to hit screens.