Chennai: Over 5,000 members of the Tamil film industry, including leading stars,
left for Neyveli on October 12 morning in a convoy of buses for the protest rally
over Cauvery issue, but fresh divisions within the ranks appear to have dampened the
spirit of the artistes.
Though the industry, which closed its ranks just the other day after much wrangling
over the nature and venue of the protest, put up a show of unity, an interview given
by film director Bharatiraja, the first to call the agitation, to a daily attacking
DMK president M Karunanidhi and superstar Rajnikant evoked strong criticism.
The rallyists, under the banner of South Indian Film Artistes Association (SIFAA),
left in 140 buses from different venues amidst tight security cover. Virtually
everyone from the Tamil tinsel world turned up for the grand show in Neyveli.
While Rajnikant has opted out of the rally, choosing to stage a fast on October 13,
the other leading star Kamal Hassan is expected to join the rallyists later.
SIFAA general secretary and DMK MP Sarath Kumar condemned Bharatiraja's interview
and expressed fresh reservations about the whole protest, but said they were
proceeding to Neyveli as planned because the rally was for a good cause and they
wanted to present a picture of unity.
Talking to reporters, he questioned the need to hold the rally at a far off place
like Neyveli and termed as "an individual's" decision the move to stage the protest
demanding that power supply to Karnataka be stopped till that state released Cauvery
water to Tamil Nadu.
Bharatiraja, who was also present, however, did not speak to reporters but boarded a
bus for the venue.
SIFAA president Vijaykant said the artistes were fighting for a
cause and the protest was an expression of solidarity with the
farmers of the state.
Vijaykant, who had a hard time in organising the convoys, pleaded
ignorance about Bharatiraja's interview.
Film director and former DMK MLA T Rajender pulled out of the
protest at the last minute, expressing displeasure over the
arrangements, while popular heroine Radhika stayed back citing
"indisposition".
In the interview to the English daily, Bharatiraja suspected a deal
between Rajnikant and Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna and
defended his decision not to call on Karunanidhi. "Who is he? Can
he provide security to us, why should we call on him?" he was
quoted as saying.
The actors and other members of the film industry started arriving
at the association premises right from 06:00 hours (IST).
Notable among those present on the occasion were leading heroes
Ajit, Karthik, Murali and Prasanth and heroines Simran and
Jothika, comedians S S Chandran, MP, and Manorama.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements at the premises
and along the arterial Grand Southern Trunk Road, through which
the convoy traversed.
The rally ran into problems soon after Bharatiraja announced the
decision a week after Kannada film stars staged a protest in
Bangalore against release of Cauvery water.
With Rajnikant coming out against the nature of the protest and
the venue and announcing a parallel fast, the industry appeared
heading for a vertical split, but timely intervention by Vijaykant
saw the actors closing ranks on October 11 night.
PTI
