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Set against the volatile backdrop of the 1960s anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, ‘Parasakthi’ remains in the eye of a storm as the state inches closer to the assembly elections
All major political players in Tamil Nadu are jostling for narrative control over Sivakarthikeyan-starrer ‘Parasakthi’.
(Image: Sourced)
Tamil film Parasakthi has courted controversy right since its trailer was released earlier this month – from running into censorship hurdles to attracting Telugu ire and now a subject of “fan wars”, with stiff competition from Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, to political whataboutery over its content.
Set against the volatile backdrop of the 1960s anti-Hindi imposition agitation in Tamil Nadu, the Sudha Kongara directorial remains in the eye of a storm as the state inches closer to the assembly elections.
All major political players in the state – DMK, TVK, BJP, and Congress – are jostling for narrative control over the film, which stars Sivakarthikeyan, involved in an intense debate on topics ranging from freedom of expression to historical distortion.
THE POLITICAL DIVIDE
The ruling DMK has hailed Parasakthi as a Hail “historical tribute” while the Congress has demanded a ban on the film alleging “historical distortion”.
The film has sharply divided political opinion, with the DMK viewing it as a significant tribute to Tamil Nadu’s linguistic pride. Veteran actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, in a letter to deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, described Parasakthi as a “mighty war drum” for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections and a “victorious tilak etched into the history of the DMK”.
The Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, meanwhile, vehemently sought a ban on the film alleging that it “deliberately distorts historical facts” and maligns the party and its iconic leaders.
Calling it “pro-DMK”, Arun Bhaskar, state senior vice president for Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, alleged that the movie contains “fabricated” bits, such as a fictional scene where Sivakarthikeyan’s character meets former prime minister Indira Gandhi portrayed in a “villainous manner”. The party further refuted a scene depicting Indira Gandhi witnessing a train fire in Coimbatore on February 12, 1965, stating no such visit or meeting ever took place.
“In 1965, the Congress government never officially announced that Post Office forms must be filled only in Hindi across all states. This is a complete fabrication deliberately created to malign our party. The film depicts a fictional scene in which Sivakarthikeyan meets the Iron Lady Indira Gandhi and thereafter portrays her as speaking in a villainous manner,” read a part of the statement by the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress.
This demand for a ban from the Congress drew sharp criticism from the BJP. Narayanan Thirupathi, the BJP’s chief media coordinator, labelled the stance of the Congress as “anti-democratic” pointing out the hypocrisy of the party for supporting Vijay’s film, Jana Nayagan, amid its censorship troubles while demanding a ban on Parasakthi.
“The Congress, which claims that the legal action by the film certification board in the film Jana Nayagan is anti-democratic and against freedom of expression, is acting in an anti-democratic manner and against freedom of expression by demanding that the film Parashakthi be banned — this is shameful. It underscores how the Congress is willing to stoop to any depths for the sake of politics,” Thirupathi said in a post on X.
CENSORSHIP HURDLES
The road to release for Parasakthi was marred by significant hurdles from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which initially suggested approximately 38 cuts related to the depiction of the 1965 agitations.
This delay sparked a war of words between the state and central leadership. Chief Minister MK Stalin took to social media to condemn the Centre, alleging that the “censor board has also become a new weapon of the BJP government” alongside agencies like the CBI and ED.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran, however, hit back questioning if Stalin was unaware that the film had eventually been granted a UA certificate. He maintained that the board simply followed established rules and dismissed any attempts to link the certification issues of TVK chief Vijay’s Jana Nayagan – also delayed due to legal and censor complications – to central government interference.
‘FAN WARS’, ONLINE SABOTAGE AND TELUGU OUTRAGE
Beyond politics, Parasakthi has been caught in the crossfire of “fan wars” following the delay in the release of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan.
Parasakthi producer and actor Dev Ramnath alleged that Vijay’s fans were deliberately targeting the film with coordinated negative reviews and political slogans in theatres to sabotage its box-office run.
“This isn’t competition,” Ramnath stated on X, highlighting the struggles the team faced to secure a release less than 18 hours before showtime.
Adding to the polarisation was outrage among the Telugu community over the inclusion of the word golty in the film’s Tamil version – a term often considered a derogatory ethnic slur by Telugu speakers. This triggered boycott calls on social media platforms like X and Reddit.
Critics accused Sudha Kongara and Sivakarthikeyan of “double standards”, particularly as the film is also being released in Telugu-speaking states where they enjoy significant support. While some fans argued the word was used as “friendly banter” given that one of the characters is Telugu, many remain unconvinced and demanded an unconditional apology from the makers.
ALL ABOUT THE FILM
Kongara’s Parasakthi features an ensemble cast led by Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela.
Sivakarthikeyan plays a grounded coal tosser for the Indian Railways who becomes caught in the 1960s student movement against Hindi imposition. The film, which features music by GV Prakash and cinematography by Ravi K Chandran, explores themes of social struggle and family bonds.
Despite mixed reviews and controversies, the film is enjoying an open run in theatres during the festive window largely due to the unexpected delay of its rival, Jana Nayagan. While the production house Dawn Pictures celebrated the release as a “fire that speaks to all ages”, the film remains a lightning rod for debate on linguistic identity and historical accuracy in Tamil cinema.
(With agency inputs)
January 13, 2026, 21:14 IST
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