Kasthuri Daily Serial – E 406 – 28th Feb

Kollywood star Suriya’s residence in Chennai has been under police protection for the past two and a half years, sparking a public discussion about the extended duration of this security measure. While Suriya has reportedly not been residing in Chennai for over a year, his home continues to be guarded by police personnel, raising questions about the necessity of such a deployment.

The controversy stems from Suriya’s involvement in the 2021 film “Jai Bhim,” released on Amazon Prime Video. The movie, directed by T.J. Gnanavel and co-starring Suriya’s wife Jyothika, received critical acclaim but also attracted controversy. The “Rudra Vanniyar Sena” organization alleged that certain scenes in the film portrayed their community disrespectfully. The movie’s depiction of the Irular tribe (an Adivasi group) allegedly being tortured by members of the Vanniyar community sparked outrage.

In response to the film, the “Rudra Vanniyar Sena” reportedly announced a reward of 1 lakh rupees (approximately $1230 USD) for anyone who attacked Suriya. Additionally, they demanded a public apology from the actor and a compensation of 5 crores rupees (approximately $615,000 USD). Citing these threats, the Tamil Nadu government authorized police protection for Suriya’s residence in T Nagar, Chennai.

However, the continued presence of four police officers guarding the currently unoccupied residence has drawn criticism. Social worker Krishna Murthy questioned the rationale behind maintaining this security detail in Suriya’s absence. With the news gaining traction, many have expressed concerns about the allocation of state resources for seemingly unnecessary security measures. This situation has highlighted potential shortcomings in the government’s approach to security and resource management.