Parvathy Thiruvothu joins Thangalaan director Pa Ranjith’s ‘army’: ‘Whatever we do in life is political’ 

Pa Ranjith is one of the most important filmmakers in Indian cinema right now, and he has shaped the way today’s mainstream cinema represents the oppressed. He is now gearing up for the release of his much-anticipated Thangalaan, starring Vikram, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Malavika Mohanan and Pasupathy. At the recently conducted audio launch of the film in Chennai, actor-activist Parvathy was vocal about her support for Ranjith’s brand of cinema. In a powerful speech that has since gone viral on social media, Parvathy vehemently iterated that art is always political. 

“Cinema can be seen as entertainment or blockbuster material, but without a shred of doubt, whatever we do in life is political. There is nothing apolitical in this world,” said Parvathy, who went on to drive home the significance of the film’s release on August 15. “I don’t think Thangalaan releasing on the Indian Independence Day is a mere coincidence. We use words like freedom and oppression quite loosely. We should continue reading about inequality and understand its presence in today’s world. Even if it is discomforting, you have to accept that. Personal is political. Art is political. For that, Ranjith is leading an army, and I’m happy to be your soldier.”

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The speech got a thunderous response, and has been received with a lot of warmth by netizens, who remarked that it is such clarity that truly makes political cinema an important tool of societal change. 

Here’s the trailer:

Thangalaan, which is backed by KE Gnanavel Raja’s Studio Green, Neelam Productions, and Jio Studios, traces the beginnings of the gold mining in the region of Kolar, and how systemic oppression became a malaise. With music by GV Prakash Kumar, Thangalaan is shot by Kishor Kumar and edited by Selva RK.