He said caste-based honour killings aren't violence, but the parents's way of showing love towards their children.
Published Aug 10, 2024 | 5:16 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2024 | 11:12 PM
Tamil actor Ranjith draws ire for defending honour killings. (X)
Tamil actor Ranjith has attracted controversy by justifying honour killings and describing the act as “parents’s care for their children”.
Addressing the media after the screening of his film Kavundampalayam in Salem on Friday, 9 August, the actor-director said, “Caste-based honour killings aren’t violence. It’s just the parents’s way of showing love towards their children.”
Ranjith further added, “Only parents know the pain. If a bike gets stolen, won’t we go and see what has happened? Parents for whom life is all about their children do get angry and express it that way. It is not violence; it’s just their care for them (children).”
As soon as his statement went viral, the actor drew flak from human rights activists and netizens. They condemned his remarks and lambasted him for promoting a toxic mindset in society by defending the murders.
An X user wrote: “So he literally did not act in movies. He is basically that character. I remember Pandavar Boomi. Now he is acting in serials.”
A netizen said,”Ranjith, you’ve crossed a line. Honor killing is not love, it’s barbarism. Your words are not just ignorant, they’re dangerous. This isn’t just a ‘parent’s way,’ it’s murder. You’re not just wrong, you’re promoting a toxic mindset that has no place in our society.”
A user wondered,” How can he justify honor killing? Shame.” Another felt, “This guy needs to be behind the bars saying this. He is supporting killing.”
A few netizens called him a casteist and demanded that he be jailed.
Tamil actor #Ranjith on #HonorKilling 🤦♀️🤦♂️
He claims Honor Killing isn’t violence. It is a parent’s emotion that comes out of love towards their children. He doesn’t find it guilty. 🙏
— What The Fuss (@W_T_F_Channel) August 10, 2024
This isn’t the first time Ranjith made such controversial statements. Earlier, speaking about the Happy Streets event, where several shows are organised on Chennai’s streets, the actor made derogatory remarks against women for wearing “short clothes” and “dancing in front of everybody”. The actor drew criticism from all quarters of life for his misogynistic comments.
Meanwhile, Ranjith’s film Kavundampalayalam revolves around the controversial subject of caste-based violence and parental control over children.
Its trailer raised eyebrows with the dialogue, “Mannula vivasayam pannardhu mukkiyam illa, ponnula la vivasayam pannanum (It’s not important to do farming in our lands, we’ve to impregnate women).”
This movie was slated for release in February this year but the date was pushed due to the controversies surrounding the film. Later, the makers managed to release it in limited theatres.
In an interview, the actor stated that the movie was given an “A” certificate and made with good intentions. However, a group of people were intentionally targeting him by not allowing his film to hit the screens.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
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