
Enact strong law against caste-based killings, says Seeman at toddy liberation conference
Addressing the gathering Mr. Seeman criticised the government for banning toddy tapping, stating that toddy is a natural palm extract and not an intoxicant. 'This is not liquor, this is palm paal (palm nectar), a herbal extract,' he said, alleging that liquor lobbyists influenced the ban to protect Tasmac's profits. 'If toddy tapping is legalised, TASMAC revenues will drop. That is the real reason behind the ban,' he added.
Toddy Liberation Movement coordinator S. Nallasamy and other leaders participated in the event.
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Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Vijay Deverakonda's 'Kingdom' sparks outrage over portrayal of Sri Lankan Tamils
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News18
20 hours ago
- News18
Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom Makers Apologise Amid Protests: 'We Respect People Of Tamil Nadu'
Criticism has largely stemmed from the Tamil nationalist group Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which has taken strong exception to certain elements in Kingdom. The makers of Vijay Deverakonda's recently released movie have issued an apology to the people of Tamil Nadu. This comes at a time when the film has triggered widespread protests in Tamil Nadu, with several groups accusing it of misrepresenting Tamil identity and hurting religious sentiments. Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, premiered globally on July 31 but has since become the focus of a growing controversy. Kingdom Makers: 'We Respect People Of Tamil Nadu' On Wednesday, Sitara Entertainment, the production house of Vijay Deverakonda's starrer, issued a statement and clarified that their intention was not to hurt anyone with their movie. 'We would like to apologise if they have in any way hurt the sentiments of the people," a part of the statement read. The makers also specified that their film is 'fictional" and therefore, there was no intention to hurt anyone. 'We respect the people of Tamil Nadu," it added. Chedk out the full statement here: Why Is Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom Facing Protests? Criticism has largely stemmed from the Tamil nationalist group Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which has taken strong exception to certain elements in the film. Members of the group claim Kingdom portrays Sri Lankan Tamils in a negative light. Further anger was directed at the film's decision to name its antagonist 'Murugan', a name associated with one of Tamil Nadu's most revered deities, Lord Murugan. NTK condemned these creative choices, calling them deliberate and insensitive. According to the group, the Vijay Deverakonda starrer maligns both the identity and cultural history of Tamils. In response, protests were staged outside multiple theatres across the state, with party members demanding that Kingdom be banned from screening in Tamil Nadu. Massive Protests Against Kingdom In Ramanathapuram Recently, NTK supporters in Ramanathapuram gathered outside a cinema hall to obstruct the film's screening. Protesters raised slogans and called for an immediate stop to the show. The situation escalated when police intervened to disperse the crowd, leading to a confrontation between law enforcement and demonstrators. A minor scuffle reportedly broke out during the standoff, prompting the deployment of additional forces to restore order. While no injuries have been reported, security remains heightened in the area to prevent further disturbances. How Much Has Kingdom Earned? According to the latest figures from the industry tracker Sacnilk, Kingdom earned just Rs 2.25 crore on Day 5, its lowest so far. The film had kicked off with a strong opening of Rs 18 crore on Thursday, but the weekend didn't see any big jump. It collected Rs 7.5 crore on Saturday and Rs 8 crore on Sunday. With Monday and Tuesday showing a clear dip, Kingdom's total box office collection now stands at Rs 43.15 crore. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


India Today
20 hours ago
- India Today
Protests against Vijay Deverakonda's Kingdom over portrayal of Sri Lankan Tamils
Vijay Deverakonda-starrer 'Kingdom' faced protests in Tamil Nadu's Madurai and Trichy while pro-Tamil leaders condemned the alleged portrayal of Sri Lankan Tamils in a poor light. Cadres from Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK), a pro-Tamil party, held a protest outside theatres in Trichy demanding a ban on the film's screening.'The movie demeans LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) fighters and Eezham Tamils. They fought for 30 years and died but are shown as enslaved people living in the mountain areas. This is an attempt to twist historical facts and we can't allow it. They have not had justice until now and many are still missing. Naam Thamizhar Katchi can't do such acts of hurting them,' stated Saravanan, State Propaganda Secretary of also met with a prominent theatre manager in the district, after which the banners of 'Kingdom' were removed. They left the premises only after assurance was given that discussion would be held with distributors about halting the screening. Meanwhile, distributors of the movie in Tamil Nadu have approached Madras High Court seeking police by Gowtam Tinnanuri, 'Kingdom' is a Telugu film featuring Vijay Deverakonda, Satyadev and Venkitesh in the lead roles. The film, set in Sri Lanka, follows the story of a cop-turned-spy, who eventually becomes the saviour of the tribe of Divi. The film was dubbed in Tamil, Malayalam and other languages and hit theatres on July it received a solid opening in theatres, 'Kingdom' saw a gradual decline in numbers at the box office. The film was also criticised for its screenplay and lack of high moments.- Ends