Tamil film Amaran condemned for its negative portrayal of Kashmiris
Chennai: A Tamil film has sparked widespread controversy for portraying Kashmiri people in a negative light and misrepresenting the Kashmir conflict and labelling the struggle for self-determination as terrorism.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the film ‘Amaran’, produced by Kamal Haasan and starring Sivakarthikeyan, was released on October 31 during the Diwali festival.
The ‘May 17 Movement’, led by Thirumurugan Gandhi, condemned the film for its “negative portrayal” of Kashmiris, arguing that it overlooks the region’s legitimate struggles and creates divisions.
M. Jawahirullah, leader of the ‘Manithaneya Makkal Katchi’, compared the film’s narrative to divisive political ideologies, criticizing its unjust depiction of Kashmiris as enemies of the state.
Muslim organizations, including the ‘Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)’, have called for the film to be banned in Tamil Nadu. Protests were held outside Kamal Haasan’s production office and theaters screening the movie. In response, the Greater Chennai City Police have stepped up security at theaters showing the controversial movie to prevent any violence.
The controversy has raised questions about the responsibility of the Tamil film industry in portraying sensitive political issues, with calls for a more responsible portrayal of historical events and a rejection of divisive narratives.
