Suriya starrer Jai Bhim has been making it to the headlines for various reasons. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video last week and it has garnered appreciation from critics and viewers alike owing to its progressive content, discussions over caste-based oppression and discrimination.
However, the film has also landed in controversial waters as a section of viewers pointed out that a scene from Jai Bhim showcased, a communal symbol printed on a calendar in the background. To not hurt the sentiments of people; the team behind the movie has replaced the symbol with a picture of Goddess Lakshmi. The makers conveyed the same via a statement.
Proud to bring this story of courage and faith in pursuit of Justice!!#JaiBhimOnPrime arrives Nov 2, on @PrimeVideoIN@prakashraaj #Jyotika @tjgnan @RSeanRoldan @srkathiir @KKadhirr_artdir @philoedit @rajisha_vijayan #Manikandan @jose_lijomol@rajsekarpandian @2D_ENTPVTLTD pic.twitter.com/58rQIFP38Y
— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) October 1, 2021
In an interview with News9, Prakash Raj issued his statement on the objectionable scene in Jai Bhim and said, “After watching a film such as Jai Bhim, they did not see the agony of the tribal people, they did not see and feel terrible about the injustice, they saw only the slap. That is all they understood; this exposes their agenda. That said, certain things have to be documented. For example, the anger of South Indians on Hindi being forced upon them.”
He also explained how the whole scene justified the reaction of his character in the film and said, “How else will a police officer who is investigating a case react when he knows that a person who understands the local language, chooses to speak only in Hindi to dodge the interrogation? That has to be documented, right? The film is set in the 1990s.”
Prakash Raj continued, “If that character had Hindi imposed on him, he would have reacted this way only. Probably if it came across as more intense, it is also because that is my thought too, and I stand by that thought.”
Jai Bhim is a courtroom drama directed by TJ Gnanavel. The film features Suriya playing the role of a lawyer, based on real-life lawyer Chandru – a man who dedicated his life fighting for the rights of the oppressed without charging money.
The film also stars Prakash Raj, Rao Ramesh, Rajisha Vijayan and Lijo Mol Jose among others.
Image source/Suriya/Instagram