Pa Ranjith praises Maamannan, calls out caste bias within DMK; Udhayanidhi Stalin responds

Filmmaker Pa Ranjith on Monday showered praises on the latest Tamil film Maamannan, which stars Udhayanidhi Stalin and Vadivelu in the lead roles. While commending the film's portrayal of caste-based disparities within political parties, Ranjith also highlighted the existing caste bias within Udhayanidhi Stalin's own political party, DMK.

"The film Maamannan vividly portrays how caste-based disparities are prevalent in political parties that claim to stand for social justice. It exactly depicts the challenges faced by MLAs from single-member districts and why they hesitate to voice their concerns. Despite being part of political parties that advocate for social justice, why do they remain silent? Have they been properly recognised, empowered, and represented?" said director Pa Ranjith.

Quick Take | Maamannan Review: Mari Selvaraj's no-brainer is only redeemed by Vadivelu's screen presence

Ranjith further praised Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is both the producer of Maamannan and a minister in the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, for taking on the project. He acknowledged Udhayanidhi's awareness of the caste discrimination that still poses a significant challenge within the DMK party and expressed hope that he would work towards eliminating it.

In response to Ranjith's remarks, Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed gratitude for the director's appreciation of Maamannan. He agreed that caste oppression and inequality must be eradicated from all political parties. Udhayanidhi emphasised the DMK's commitment to ensuring self-respect for all individuals and highlighted the party's efforts to raise awareness among the public. He said that "the DMK government, when in power, has consistently protected social justice through various laws and programs."

Udhayanidhi also emphasised his party's long-standing commitment to promoting social justice through art forms — from Parashakti to Maamannan. He acknowledged that the struggle for equality has spanned a century, fighting against a practice that has persisted for a thousand years. However, he also noted that a single film alone cannot bring about a revolution in society while emphasising the importance of continued engagement with the people to drive lasting change.

Written and directed by Mari Selvaraj, Maamannan was released in cinemas last week. Although the film received mixed reactions, the film seems to be performing well at the Tamil Nadu box office. The movie also stars Keerthy Suresh and Fahadh Faasil in the lead roles.