From books to movies, Tamil Nadu has an unenviable recent record of killing almost any form of non-conformist or dissenting work of creative expression. Just as the debate now rages over freedom of expression across the state with fringe casteist groups increasingly cracking down on Tamil writers who pen tomes they consider to be irreverant, some pro-Dalit groups have now sought to stall the release of yet another Kollywood movie.
This one, Komban is in their cross hairs for its alleged pro-Thevar (dominant caste in Southern Tamil Nadu) narrative. Dalit outfit Puthiya Thamizhagam's leader Krishnaswamy has approached the high court seeking to stall the movie's release saying that it is based on a caste clash in Tamil Nadu, and may trigger more violence with its pro-Thevar tilt.
Krishnaswamy is not new to charging at films, and Komban is not the first Tamil film to run into trouble. In 2004, Krishnaswamy had forced actor Kamal Haasan to change the title of his film from Sandiyar to Virumaandi. Because Sandiyar, the leader claimed, resonated caste pride. Virumaandi went on to become a blockbuster hit and was acclaimed as one of the finest films in Tamil of recent vintage. Curiously, Kamala Haasan ran into trouble with his last film Viswaroopam in 2013. The film faced an official ban imposed by the state government for about a fortnight because some Muslim organisations asked for one. The film's storyline was about India's role in 'war on terror'.