Producer Gnanavel Raja alleged that Sudha Kongara had dismissed director Ameer's earlier work as something with 'no making'.
Published Nov 27, 2023 | 11:26 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2023 | 11:26 AM
Sudha Kongara. (Wikimedia)
Director Sudha Kongara, who finds herself in the crossfire as the battle between director Ameer and producer Gnanavel Raja over the National Award-winning Tamil film Paruthiveeran (2007) continues to rage on, has now diplomatically tried to sidestep possible trouble by putting out a post on platform X.
She wrote, “I received a phone call from Ameer anna (brother) on February 2, 2016. I was in a vehicle outside Prasad Studio. I remember it distinctly because he was one of those first few people from the film industry who congratulated me for Irudhi Suttru (Saala Khadoos in Hindi), I told him just one thing. I said that the heroine character in my film, Madhi, was inspired by his film’s heroine character Muthalagu.”
She added, “I told him that it was the first time that a female character had been so completely written in a man’s words. I told and sent the actresses who played the heroine characters of Madhi (Irudhi Suttru) and Bommi (Soorarai Pottru) in my films to first watch Paruthiveeran and then come back. That is the respect I wish to show one of the very best directors who has left his footprint on Tamil cinema. This is what I wish to state. Thanks.”
Sudha Kongara’s tweet appears to be an attempt to soothe frayed tempers in the Ameer camp.
Feb 2nd 2016. I got a call from Ameer Anna .I was driving outside Prasad Studios. I remember the exact moment because he was one of the first and few from the industry to call and praise me for Irudhi Suttru. I just told him one thing then, my Madhi is inspired by Muthazhugu. I…
— Sudha Kongara (@Sudha_Kongara) November 26, 2023
Her self-explanation comes in the wake of an interview given by producer Gnanavel Raja where he alleged that Sudha had dismissed Ameer’s earlier work as something with ‘no making’.
Producer Gnanavel Raja had, a few days ago, tried to give the impression that director Ameer was not highly rated prior to the making of Paruthiveeran.
Gnanavel said when actor Karthi had to decide whether he wanted to do Paruthiveeran with Ameer, he said he would have to first watch Ameer’s earlier film Ram before making a decision.
Gnanavel said, “That was the time Ameer’s earlier film, Ram, had released. The film had been running in theatres for 25 days when Karthi said he wanted to watch it. So, Karthi, who was working with Mani Ratnam as an assistant director, Sudha (Kongara) and I chose to watch the film at the Albert Theatre. During the course of the film, Sudha akka (sister) commented, ‘No making skills, nothing’.”
That Karthi went on to do the film with Ameer and the film went on to win National Awards, apart from being considered a cult classic is another matter.
Sudha Kongara, who finds herself in a tricky spot, has now tried to sort out the issue without ruffling feathers on either side by recalling a completely different incident in which she seems to have spoken highly of Ameer.
