Lyca Productions has filed a defamation case against T Vel Murugan, President of Tamilaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi, for his comments against the production house on a recent TV interview.
According to a press release issued by the company, a criminal complaint, and a civil suit for damages “to the tune of Rs 10 crore”, have been filed against Vel Murugan for defaming the production house during a debate aired on News 18 on March 25.
The debate was about Rajinikanth’s visit to Sri Lanka to present 150 houses to the Tamils displaced during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The trip was later cancelled when politicians like Thol Thirumavalavan and Vaiko advised Rajini against the visit.
Vel Murugan, on the debate, had accused the production house of having links with the Sri Lankan Tamil political party.
Actor Rajinikanth then issued a letter to the public explaining the reasons behind cancelling his visit:
“I had been really looking forward to going there and meeting the people, and had even requested a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena. But my friends, Thol Thirumavalavan through several media, Vaiko over the phone, and Velmurugan through a friend, had kindly requested me not to participate in the event citing political reasons. While I can’t wholeheartedly agree with their reasons, I’ve decided not to attend anyway.”
Earlier, in 2014, the Lyca Productions-financed Kaththi met with similar protests, and theatres like Sathyam Cinemas and Woodlands in Royapettah were vandalised by unknown people.
Read: Kaththi Theatre Issue – Theatres Vandalised
Kaththi posters seen around the theatre complex were torn apart, and crudely made petrol bombs were tossed inside. The reason was rumoured to be Lyca Productions’ supposed association with the then Sri Lanka president Rajapakse. Lyca had to remove the name and logo from the posters and promotional material before the release.
Pic: Deccan Chronicle
