Rahul Gandhi Enters Film Censorship Battle, Accuses Centre of Targeting Tamil Culture
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the central government on Friday. He accused the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of deliberately blocking the release of the Vijay-starrer film Jana Nayagan. Gandhi labeled this move as a direct assault on Tamil culture and identity.
The Congress leader made his statement through a post on social media platform X. He wrote clearly and forcefully. "The I&B Ministry's attempt to block 'Jana Nayagan' is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," Gandhi declared.
Political Timing Amid Alliance Tensions
Gandhi's intervention comes at a politically sensitive moment. It follows a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court just one day earlier. The dispute centers on the censor certificate for the much-anticipated movie starring popular actor Vijay.
More significantly, Gandhi's statement arrives during a period of visible strain in the Congress-DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu. Some Congress leaders within the state have been pushing for a larger role for their party. They want more seats to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections. They also desire a share in power should the alliance win.
This internal pressure has created friction. The DMK has firmly ruled out sharing power with its allies, a position that has angered sections of the Congress. In private conversations, some Congress figures have even discussed exploring alternative political partnerships. They have mentioned Vijay's own political outfit, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, as a potential option.
Congress Leaders Split on Movie Politics
While Rahul Gandhi and some Congress leaders have thrown their support behind Vijay's film, others within the party have taken a different stance. They have targeted another movie titled Parasakthi. This film has been produced by a member of the DMK's first family.
Congress critics accuse Parasakthi of portraying their party in a deliberately negative light. The film focuses on historical events from the 1960s, including the anti-Hindi agitation and student movements that occurred during Indira Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister.
The Tamil Nadu Youth Congress issued a strong statement on Monday. They condemned the film for what they called historical fabrications. "The entire film is built on the filmmakers' own fabricated imagination," the statement read. It claimed the movie was "completely contrary to historical truth" and created with the "sole intention of attacking the Indian National Congress through lies and distortions."
Specific Allegations Against Parasakthi
Youth Congress leader Arun Bhaskar detailed several specific complaints. He stated that the film falsely depicts a 1965 announcement about Post Office forms being filled only in Hindi. "This is a complete fabrication deliberately created to malign our party," Bhaskar asserted.
The statement further objected to fictional scenes involving former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It criticized the portrayal of her meeting actor Sivakarthikeyan and then speaking in what the Congress called a "villainous manner."
"The foolish team that produced this film seems completely unaware that the law does not permit the imaginary portrayal of deceased national leaders in events that never occurred in history," the Youth Congress charged. They highlighted a particular scene showing Indira Gandhi visiting Coimbatore on February 12, 1965—a visit they insist never happened.
The controversy extends to the film's closing credits. The Youth Congress alleges that real photographs of Congress leaders like K Kamaraj, Indira Gandhi, and Lal Bahadur Shastri are shown alongside what they call "utterly baseless" claims. These claims suggest the Congress party was responsible for shooting more than 200 Tamil people in Pollachi.
"This accusation is made without a shred of evidence," the statement emphasized. It also noted scenes showing the burning of the Congress flag, which they say were "forcibly inserted" into the film.
Demands and Broader Context
The Youth Congress has made specific demands regarding Parasakthi. They want all historically inaccurate scenes removed immediately. They also insist the production team issue a public apology. Failure to comply, they warn, will result in "strict legal action" against the filmmakers.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is currently in Tamil Nadu. He arrived on Tuesday to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of St Thomas English High School in Gudalur. This school holds personal significance for Gandhi, as he visited it during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022 and even stayed overnight there.
The film controversy unfolds against a complex political backdrop. DMK leader and Chief Minister M K Stalin has frequently been the target of criticism from Vijay since the actor entered politics. Interestingly, the superstar has generally avoided direct attacks on the BJP, focusing his political commentary elsewhere.
This intersection of cinema, censorship, and coalition politics highlights the volatile nature of Tamil Nadu's political landscape. As legal battles over film certification continue in the courts, political leaders are increasingly using cultural issues to stake their positions and rally support.
