Several youth-led organisations are protesting against what they allege are excessive smoking scenes in the recently released Maari, starring Dhanush. Claiming that the scenes would encourage smoking among the youth, these organisations have garlanded pictures of Dhanush with slippers to mark their protest.
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In response to the protests, Dhanush clarified at the Maari press meet: “I am playing a local don in the movie, and for the role to be authentic, there had to be scenes where I smoke and drink. I wouldn’t have been able to do justice to my role. If I interfere in issues like this, it would limit the director’s creativity. I do what is demanded of my character. If you watch my character in Anegan, there isn’t a single smoking scene in the entire movie.” He further said that he doesn’t smoke or drink in real life, and requested fans to draw inspiration from what he does in reality, and not from what they see on screen.
Last year, due to their alleged offensiveness, posters of Velai Illa Pattadhari which showed Dhanush smoking a cigarette were removed across the city.