Former Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar of AIADMK, on Saturday, called filmmaker Pa Ranjith’s recently released period sports drama, Sarpatta Parambarai, “propaganda for the DMK.”
Jayakumar also criticised the film for showing former TN Chief Minister and AIADMK founder MGR in a bad light.
Sarpatta Parambarai, which released on Thursday, has been garnering positive reviews from critics and the public alike. The film revolves around the boxing culture in North Chennai during the 1970s. However, the film also shows political events of that period, including the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the opposition to it from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the subsequent splitting of the party to form the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) under the leadership of MG Ramachandran.
On Saturday, quote tweeting a journalist’s post that shared screenshots of the minister’s statement, Jayakumar wrote that Sarpatta Parambarai makes it seem like MGR did not have any involvement in the sports field and shows him a bad light. He further said that the film is nothing but propaganda for the DMK.
It is to be noted that Jayakumar was elected as an MLA from North Chennai’s Royapuram constituency five times in 1991, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016.
In his statement, Jayakumar wrote, “From cinema to politics, MGR supported sports throughout. He has been featured in his films as a sword fighter, boxer, among several others. Many have been inspired by his films and have become accomplished sportspersons.”
“He was the only political leader who had such a fondness for boxing in particular,” Jayakumar further wrote, adding that MGR even brought celebrated boxer Mohammad Ali to Chennai in 1980 to take part in a fundraising match for the Tamil Nadu Amateur Boxer Association.
Adding that MGR had offered many incentives for sportspersons, Jayakumar said that Sarpatta Parambarai however was designed to make it appear as if sportspersons were only respected during the DMK regime.
Calling this a “betrayal not just of the people involved but also future generations,” he questioned why Ranjith, who attacked DMK when not in power, had lost his sharpness now. “Is it right for Ranjith to throw the dirt on the opposition in order to surrender to those in power?” he further asked.
The minister concluded by strongly condemning the film’s portrayal of MGR, who, he said, has inspired many players, including Jayakumar himself.
The makers of the film have not commented on Jayakumar’s criticism.
Recommended
Meanwhile, showering praises on the film, actor-politician and son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Udhaynidhi Stalin of the DMK tweeted on Saturday: “Sarpatta Paramabarai, set in the 70s and focusing on the boxing culture, is an important film. The way it depicts the political scenario of that time and how Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) opposed the Emergency is praiseworthy.” He also congratulated the cast and crew for making a good film.
Sarpatta Parambarai is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. It features actors Arya, John Kokken, Dushara Vijayan, Pasupathy, Sanchana Natarajan, Kalaiyarasan, and Kaali Venkat, among others.