Missing Tamil movies? Simbus press meet could be your closest YouTube equivalent

Written by Ashameera Aiyappan | Chennai | Published: April 9, 2018 10:45:27 pm Simbu during the recently held press meet. (Photo credit: Twitter/Dr Vishal Stark)Related News

The internet has many muses — transilient as they are, it never fails to leave us fascinated. Sometimes we are as fascinated by the content and more frequently, as to how certain things become viral. Adding to the first list is actor Simbus latest press meet about the Cauvery Water Board Management and Sterlite protests that have been happening in Tamil Nadu. The Nadigar Sangam recently organised a silent protest for the same where several top stars of the industry had participated including Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. Simbu began his press meet by saying that it didnt make sense that cinema celebrities were protesting for issues like these when Kollywood itself is in a state of crisis. If you havent noticed, there has been a shutdown in the industry and it has been more than a month since new Tamil films saw the daylight. Furthermore, in a whistle-worthy moment, Simbu takes a direct hit at the silence maintained by the Nadigar Sangam. “Pesama irunthathu nala thana prachanaye. Pesama iruntha epdi prachana theerum? (We have a problem because we have been silent. How can a solution be reached without talking about it?),” questioned Simbu.

It is good that Simbu brought up the strike as for film-starved fans, his press meet could be the closest to seeing a commercial film in the near future. Taking emotional liberties with facts, high on rhetoric, celebrating the Tamilian identity, asking for a social media revolution with a liberal dose of satirical humour — the speech had all the elements of a pot-boiler. Here are 5 reasons why you should go ahead and grab that tub of popcorn.

Satirical Humour:

The Cauvery and Sterlite protests have sparked several calls to ban IPL matches happening at Chennai. Observing that it is indeed awkward to celebrate cricket matches amid the current issues, Simbu takes a dry dig at sensationalism in news. “It will be an issue if the audience wears a black badge after T.Rajendar said so, right? Rajinikanth has also said so but taking his name could also create controversy. Kamal Haasan hasnt said this. Lets do one thing, Abdul Kalam has asked us to wear black badges at the matches. He came to me as a spirit and told me this when I was meditating,” said Simbu sparking sniggers amid the reporters.

Tamilian identity:

Ever since the Jallikattu protests, Tamil cinema and mainstream pop culture have invoked the pride of being a Tamilian several times. Simbu does it in speech as well. “It doesnt matter who is saying it. It is for the welfare of Tamils,” bellowed Simbu. He goes even further and says that it is the nature of Tamils to be forgiving. “If a crab bites me, I will put it back in the water. Biting is the crabs job, protecting the crab is a Tamilians job,” asserted Simbu. Play “Aalaporan Tamizhan” in the background already!

[embedded content]

Amma sentiment:

Taking a leaf from our cinematic sensibilities, Amma sentiment can be called the spine of Tamil commercial cinema. The examples of tearful moments about the mothers unconditional love in our films are plenty. “We consider Cauvery river as a mother. I am asking will any mother from Karnataka deny her son water? Push all politics aside. If the mothers and the people of Karnataka who I consider my brethren tell us that they wont give us water, then we wont ask for it again,” exhorted a tearful Simbu.

Social media revolution:

You might wonder how the people of Karnataka will tell us if they are ready to share water. Simbus answer is social media. “I ask all the people of Karnataka to give a glass of water to a Tamilian, take a video of the same and post it on April 11 from 3 pm to 6 pm. If they dont so, it is a gesture that they dont want to share water,” said Simbu. He further asked them to use the hashtag Unity for Humanity and said that even if they shed tears for not being able to give water, it is still a victory. “Kanneer um thaneer than. (Tears are also water),” said an emotional Simbu. Remember the mobile flashlight moment from Velaikkaran?

For all the latest Entertainment News, download Indian Express App