Jai Bhim starring Tamil actor Suriya has been considered by film critics as one of the most important socio political Tamil movies to have released in 2021. After all, the film bravely unveils the systemic injustices and cruelties that the communities marginalised by caste are subjected to in Tamil Nadu.
However, while Jai Bhim has been appreciated widely, it has also become the focus of a controversy involving political parties and other communities. A legal complaint has been filed against Suriya and the makers of the film for allegedly insulting the Vanniyar community. Following which, the government provided protection to Suriya today.
Amid all the political backlash, legal notices and controversies, Suriya has now expressed heartfelt gratitude towards everyone who has loved the film and choose to stand by it no matter what. Taking to Twitter, Suriya has expressed how “overwhelming” is it to see all the love in response to the film.
“Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. I’ve never witnessed this before! Can’t express in words how thankful I am for the trust & reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us”, reads Suriya’s tweet.
Jai Bhim is based on a real life incident from 1993 and the legal battle that followed after. In Jai Bhim, Rajakannu from the Irular tribe is wrongly accused of theft, arrested and beaten brutally until he finally dies in police custody. The police tries to cover up the truth which sets off his wife, Sengeni, on a quest for truth and justice, with the aid of advocate Chandru. The film delves into the appalling treatment of people from the community, who are often framed by the police, subjected to torture and do not have even basic government documentations.
On November 15, Vanniyar Sangam sent a legal notice to Suriya, Jyotika, director TJ Gnanavel and Amazon Prime Video, claiming that the movie tarnished the reputation of the Vanniyar community. On 14 November, a group of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) cadres forced a theatre in Tamil Nadu to stop screening a Suriya film. PMK Mayiladuthurai district secretary Panneerselvam also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone who would attack the actor when he visits the district.
