CHENNAI: Legendary yesteryear filmstar S S Rajendran’s scions have refuted allegations made by actress and wife of current president of Nadigar Sangam R Sarathkumar, Raadhika, that actor Vishal’s Paandavar Ani faction had driven a wedge between SSR Kannan and the other four half-brothers in the family - SSR Rajendra Kumar, SSR Ilangovan, SSR Kalaivaanan and SSR Selvaraj.
“Vishal and team haven’t caused a split in our family,” stated SSR Rajendra Kumar, ex-MP and second son of SSR, at a press conference here on Thursday. “These are baseless allegations. They have said that Vishal’s faction has caused a split in the family. They have also said that SSR Kannan and his mother have filed a compliant against us with regard to a programme which we are planning to conduct in memory of our father. This is not true. If it is, as stated by Raadhika Sarathkumar, please ask her to show it to us,” said Rajendra Kumar.
SSR Kannan, born to SSR’s second wife Thamaraiselvi, is the half brother of SSR Rajendra Kumar and the other three.
Explaining further, Rajendra Kumar said the only link that the memorial service for SSR, set to be held on October 12, had with the Paandavar Ani faction in the Nadigar Sangam elections, was a ‘distant one’.
According to Kumar, his son Pankaj Kumar had been a member of the Sangam for seven years and was part of the election efforts of the Paandavar Ani. “When they heard through him about the programme, they offered help. That SSR Kannan is part of the faction led by Sarath Kumar is his individual choice. This has nothing to do with the memorial program,” he said.
However, the four brothers did throw their support behind the Paandavar Ani in the upcoming film body elections.
“Sarathkumar’s faction can let the young tewwam be elected and prove their worth over the term. You can always have elections again if they are not successful. This is how my father made way for other greats like MGR and Shivaji earlier. He later contested the Sangam elections after giving them a chance,” he stated. “It is only because they are scared of losing that they have tried to stall the elections,” he added. He also expressed his admiration for the younger team’s effort and manifesto.
“The Sangam needs to keep in tune with the changes in technology and the current generation,” he added.
