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Renowned as one of the trailblazers in modern Tamil cinema, filmmaker Pa Ranjith gained fame not only through his exceptional work but also his unwavering political stances, particularly on the issue of caste. Both on and off-screen, Ranjith has never shied away from expressing his politics loudly and clearly, and he has done the same with his Neelam Cultural Centre. Having left a lasting impact on the industry as both a director and producer, Ranjith has now found himself embroiled in controversy for working with actor John Vijay, who has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women in the past.
The controversy arose after Chidambaram MP and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan shared a picture on X (formerly Twitter), featuring him with Ranjith at the Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu. Accompanying Thirumavalavan and Ranjith in the selfie were actors Arya, Harish Uthaman and John Vijay. However, this did not sit well with social media users, who immediately called out Ranjith for working with someone facing serious allegations.
“Pa Ranjith, hope you reconsider associating with #MeToo-accused John Vijay, a repeat offender with a troubling past. I won’t name anyone but it’s disheartening to hear that those close to him including his wife, seem aware of his actions yet remain unresponsive to the allegations,” one Twitterati noted. Another person pointed out, “You can’t claim to fight for the oppressed and still work with a sexual abuser. If you collaborate with a MeToo accused, your activism starts to feel like performance, not principle.” Several other users echoed similar sentiments, with one wondering, “Why is Beemji (Ranjith’s X username) still associating and giving an opportunity to sexual abusers like John Vijay?”
At the same time, a couple of others pointed out that this trip could be related to the much-anticipated Sarpatta Parambarai (2021) sequel, with Arya and John Vijay reprising their key roles from the original 2021 movie, while Harish could be a new addition to the cast. Although the makers, including Arya, have previously confirmed that Sarpatta Parambarai 2 is in the works, there has been no official confirmation that the new viral photo was clicked in regard to this project. Before Sarpatta Parambarai, John Vijay had also worked with Ranjith in his gangster film Kabali (2016), starring Superstar Rajinikanth in the lead role.
In 2024, singer and voice artist Chinmayi Sripada had shared screenshots of some anonymous complaints she had received against Vijay. The complaints accused the actor of “ogling” and making women feel “uncomfortable” in workplaces, pubs and restaurants.
Even back in 2018, at the peak of the #MeToo movement, Vijay faced accusations of similar nature. Through Chinmayi’s social media handle, a few women made serious allegations against the actor. He then claimed that his actions did not contain any intentions or ulterior motives. He also stated that he was a staunch supporter of the #MeToo movement. In a statement to Firstpost, he said: “I am a very transparent person who speaks my heart out. Not with any intentions or ulterior motives. I have understood that at times my jokes are not funny to everyone and may sound insensitive. When I really sense that someone does not appreciate what I say, is not on the same page, and I am misunderstood, I remove myself from having further conversation or being present at that place.”
He added: “I really do not remember the incidents quoted on Twitter, I have not met these people anywhere alone nor asked them out either. If my comments, which I thought were funny and witty, would have hurt anyone at any point in time, I would like to take this opportunity to inform that I am also very emotionally hurt by my behaviour. This would be my lesson to know what to say to whom and when. I completely support this #MeToo movement. If I had not been pulled in I would have been one among the first to voice this cause and support this movement.”
Renowned for directing movies such as Madras (2014), Kabali, Kaala (2018), Sarpatta Parambarai and Thangalaan (2024), Ranjith has also become a notable figure in Tamil cinema by backing significant films such as Pariyerum Perumal (2018), Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu (2019), Bommai Nayagi (2023) and J Baby (2024).
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