Aruvi, the film that is currently being regarded as one of Tamil cinema’s best this year, is currently facing flak for allegedly being a copy of an Egyptian film Asmaa, that happens to be the first-ever Egyptian feature film to highlight the problems and stigma faced by HIV AIDS patients. Social media users have gone on a roll to point out the similarities between Arun Prabu Purushothaman’s directorial and the 2011 film directed by Amr Salama.
Actress Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, who claims that a character in Aruvi makes fun her and her reality show Solavethallam Unmai, also shared posts from users claiming plagiarising allegations.
A Facebook post I saw just now:) pic.twitter.com/rBI9c1j8zs
— Lakshmy Ramakrishnan (@LakshmyRamki) December 19, 2017
Responding to this, producer of the film SR Prabhu, took to Twitter to clarify that the intentions behind Aruvi were pure in a bid to show a more humane aspect.
#அருவி – இது அன்பை, மனிதத்தை பறைசாற்றும் நோக்கில் மட்டுமே எடுக்கப்பட்ட படம். யார் மனதையும் புண்படுத்தும் நோக்கில் எடுக்கப்பட்டதல்ல. இருந்தும், யாராவது காயப்பட்டிருந்தால் எங்கள் வருத்தத்தை தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறோம்! @thambiprabu89 @DreamWarriorpic
— S.R.Prabhu (@prabhu_sr) December 18, 2017
Asmaa released in 2011 and is considered a path-breaking film as it, for once, showed a more realistic depiction of a character suffering from AIDS. The film was also based on a true story where a woman suffering from AIDS eventually died after the hospital refused to operate on her for a ruptured gall bladder.
Aruvi stars Aditi Balan in the titular role, a young 25-year-old woman who goes on a reality show and attempts to clarify a misunderstanding that takes a totally unexpected path. The film has been receiving massive praises from all the major members of the film industry including director Shankar Shanmugham, actor Jayam Ravi, and many others.
Aruvi – A very good movie. Unmasks everything and everyone. Excellent work by Director Arun Prabhu, Adithi Balan and everyone performed very well.
— Shankar Shanmugham (@shankarshanmugh) December 17, 2017
#Aruvi – don’t know if it’s b’coz I have a daughter,it gave me a jolt.The way director questions & mocks us as society but continues to entertain us in the process amazes me. Aditi’s submission & dedication is fantastic.Characters(Emily),visualsmusic all gave a new experience??
— Actor Karthi (@Karthi_Offl) December 18, 2017
#Aruvi is superbly written, directed, shot,performed & edited film that showers lot of emotional moments.. So Touching!!
Brilliant acting by @Aditibalan… Congrats @prabhu_sr @thambiprabu89 & whole team for making this Kickass film… Keep rollinggg sirss…???— karthik subbaraj (@karthiksubbaraj) December 16, 2017
#Aruvi makes you smile, think, cringe, cry, clap! What a performer the lead actress is?! Fantastic direction – Extracted perfm’ce frm every cast in a neat way! Experimental but befitting music. Visionary production by @prabhu_sr . This Aruvi is an experience like Aruvi – Go 4 it!
— Arun Vaidyanathan (@Arunvaid) December 15, 2017
#Aruvi pic.twitter.com/nJr84Z9OJ7
— Suseenthiran (@dir_susee) December 18, 2017
Meanwhile, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan expressed her displeasure over the alleged portrayal of her in the film and put out a rather uninformed and insensitive tweet:
Being a Woman, that too outspoken, in media , successful in some ways and happened to be born in the so called
‘ brahmin’ community, that too having a Palakkad Iyer accent and settled in Tamilnadu is worse than being affected with HIV— Lakshmy Ramakrishnan (@LakshmyRamki) December 19, 2017
Criticism is good:) but do you know the difference between criticism and personal attack?! Anyone can say their opinion about the show, targeting people is cheapness! https://t.co/N1Abki0hd1
— Lakshmy Ramakrishnan (@LakshmyRamki) December 19, 2017
