My people and state are more important than any National award: Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi

Actor Vijay Sethupathi, who is riding high in the Tamil film industry after a string of hits, has hit out at the Central government and said that his pride as a Tamilian is more important than any National award.

The actor said this during a press meet of his soon to be released movie, Karuppan. 

When questioned if he would accept a National award if the movie does win one, the actor said, 'Without second thoughts I can say I will not accept a National award. My people and my state are above everything else for me. We already feel squeezed by the Centre.'

Sethupathi also expressed his dissent towards the centre's decision to remove Tamil language from train tickets and said that the move has angered him. The actor, however, said it is not the time to get emotional but the time to act.

It is to be noted that Vijay Sethupathi's debut movie as a hero, Thenmerku Paruvakaathu, won two national awards. The actor, however, hasn't won any national awards yet.