Chennai: In a veiled attack on DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday said everyone was aware of the plight of the Tamil film industry before she returned to power.
Inaugurating the three-day celebration of 100 years of Indian cinema, she said, “After I took over, the film industry has been functioning independently for the past two years now,” and went on to list a slew of measures taken by her government for the industry, such as subsidy for small producers, sanctioning of Rs 50 lakh for the Chennai international film festival and curbing video piracy by including it under the Goondas Act.
Apparently likening Karunanidhi to a “wicked man who misses his chance of redemption owing to his trait of preventing other’s growth”, the chief minister said, “In this world, there are some who feel it can be okay only if they live. There are also people who feel they should live and let others live as well. Self-centric people want to eliminate not only those who are stumbling blocks to their growth, but also their competitors. Those who tried to boss over the Tamil film world found themselves in a fate similar to that man.”
Heaping praise on her political mentor and matinee idol, MGR, she said you always thought of him when the subject of films dominating politics cropped up. “I am proud when I reflect that I too have worked in the film industry,” she said, underlining that cinema was indispensable for its contribution to society.
The chief minister later presented awards to 59 members of the Tamil and Telugu tinsel world in recognition of their contribution to the industry.
The event was organised at the Nehru indoor stadium, by the state government and the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.
Jaya walks down Tamil cinema memory lane
The four-day celebration of 100 years of Indian cinema got off to a glittering start with the big names of Kollywood and Tollywood adorning the dais with chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Day 1 at Nehru indoor stadium.
As Kollywood fans got a virtual treat seeing bigwigs like Rajinikanth and Kamalhassan among 59 others, the chief minister shared memorable minutes with actors of yesteryear, particularly her peers like Saroja Devi, Kanchana and Manorama and M.N. Rajam.
Seizing the opportunity to trace the origin and growth of Indian cinema, the chief minister recounted the stellar contribution of a huge list of stalwarts in various segments of the dream industry, starting with Dadasaheb Phalke, who produced Raja Harishchandra in 1913 to the likes of movie icons MGR and Sivaji in Tamil cinema.