CHENNAI: Rising in protest against the allegedly defamatory article on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on the Sri Lankan defence website, Tamil film industry held a protest near the Sri Lankan deputy high commission on Monday demanding the closure of the Lankan mission in Chennai, on Monday.
The protest was organised by the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association, which saw the participation of the film actors, producers and distributors.
“This incident has to be condemned and the Sri Lankan government should apologise for hurting the sentiments of the representative of eight crore people, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa,” said film director Seeman, founder Naam Thamizhar Katchi.
The protest was organised by the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association (TANTIA) along with various film unions including South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA), Tamil Film Producers’ Council, South Indian Film Workers Federation and the Distributors Association. The protesters raised slogans calling for the closure of the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in Chennai and condemning the alleged indifferent attitude of the Lankan government towards the recent controversy.
Some of the leading faces from the industry including actors Suriya, Vijay, Srikanth, Bhagyaraj, Parthiban, Sarathkumar, Sivakumar, Vinay, Prabhu, Vikram Prabhu, producer Kalaipuli S Thanu, directors KS Ravikumar, SP Jhananathan and Seeman, lyricists Snehan and Thamarai were among those seen at the protest.
“By saying that he doesn’t know about this article on the official website, Rajapaksa thinks that Tamil Nadu people are fools to buy his argument. But, the film fraternity and the whole State will stay together to speak out against this insult against the Chief Minister and the country,” said distributor Abirami Ramanathan.