Kollywood’s show of solidarity

Several top stars and members of the Tamil film fraternity held a silent protest meeting in Valluvar Kottam on Sunday, urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board.

The film industry also extended its support to the ongoing agitation against the Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi.

The protest, which drew a huge turnout, was organised by the Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC), the South Indian Artistes’ Association (Nadigar Sangam) and other unions affiliated to the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI).

Declaring that the protest would be a silent one, with no speeches, Nadigar Sangam president and actor Nasser said he was thankful that despite the film industry going through a period of turmoil, the FEFSI and its various unions and members had come forward to support the cause.

“The constitution of the CMB is a fair and a just demand, which the Centre and the State government should take note of. Our collective conscience has made us come together and show our support to the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

The Tamil film industry has been in lockdown since the beginning of March, with film releases and shooting schedules being stalled owing to a tussle between the TFPC and the digital service providers over the Virtual Print Fee.

Among the first to join the meeting was actor Vijay, followed by Dhanush, Sivakarthikeyan, Sathyaraj, Sivakumar, Suriya, Vikram, Dhansika, Rohini, Ambika and Vivekh.

Kamal, Rajini join in

Actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, who have been vocal about the need to constitute the CMB and have criticised the Sterlite expansion project, joined the protest around 11 a.m.

Directors Shankar and R.K. Selvamani, poet Vairamuthu, music director Ilayaraaja and cinematographer P.C. Sreeram also took part.

Reading out a petition containing demands at the end of the protest, the Tamil film fraternity said the CMB should be set up at the earliest to bring about a solution to the long-standing Cauvery issue. “We also appeal to the Central and State governments to duly compensate those who have been affected by the functioning of the Sterlite plant,” the petition stated. TFPC president and actor Vishal said the petition would be signed by members of the Tamil film industry before being submitted to the Governor.