MADURAI: With Rajinikanth fans going out of their way to mark the birthday and the release of his much-awaited flick Lingaa on the same day, their revelry has put them at loggerheads with a Dravidian outfit.
The Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam on Saturday lodged a complaint against the Superstar’s fans for morphing the photo of Periyar and replacing the head with that of Rajinikanth at Thiruparankundram in the district. Meanwhile, based on a complaint from M Tamil Pithan, State committee member of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, the police booked two persons for erecting public hoardings with the morphed photo.
Sources said that A Saravanan (41), district functionary of Rajinikanth Fans Club, along with P Mohandas had erected the hoardings showing Rajinikanth as ‘Spiritual Periyar’ to mark the Superstar’s birthday. However, justifying his action, Saravanan said, “While Periyar was responsible for the Dravidian movement, Rajinikanth paved the way for spreading spirituality among people, especially his fans. So we mentioned him as ‘Spiritual Periyar’. However, we meant no disrespect to Periyar.”
The explanation, however, failed to cut ice with the Dravidian outfit, with Tamil Pithan saying, “Periyar was a social reformer, who vigorously campaigned against irrational ideas and stressed for rationality in public life. He was also against cinema, which he believed would degenerate the social values.”
“Though Rajinikanth is known for spirituality, it is against the basic principle of Periyar,” Pithan added.