Sarathkumar-Vishal fight it out filmy-style on Chennai streets
- Chennai streets see actors fight – real not reel
- General Secretary of Nadigar Sangam Vishal announces the expulsion of actors Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi
- Supporters of both groups turn violent
- Corruption charges levelled against Sarathkumar’s group
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On November 27, the entire stretch of Habibullah Road in Chennai transformed into a climax scene from one of the Tamil films ‘Kashmora’ starring Karthi. Well, the only difference here was that Karthi was donning the role of Nadigar Sangam’s treasurer. It was the 63rd annual general body meeting of the actor’s body – Nadigar Sangam. Supporters of former office bearers Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi allegedly became aggressive when former association president was denied entry to the meeting.
The event kick-started with the participation of famous Kollywood stars like Vikram, Sivakarthikeyan and more. An awards function to commemorate veterans like Venniradai Moorthy, Saroja Devi and Charu Haasam was also witnessed. All the glitz and glam faded to the background when attacks and abuse took centre-stage with even actor Karuna’s car allegedly getting damaged in the process.
The all-out war has been raging at the Nadigar Sangam right since the fiercely-fought 2015 elections, where actor Vishal and team dethroned the decade-old rule of actors Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi. The facts of the story suggest that newly elected group, rightly dubbed ‘Pandavar Ani’, raced to victory after levelling charges of corruption against Sarathkumar’s group regarding a deal with SPI cinemas.
During the recent meet, actor Kamal Haasan, who backed the change in leadership, addressed the body via video conferencing as he is still recovering from his leg fracture. And later, actor Vishal announced that actors Sarathkumar and Radha Ravi are expelled permanently from the South Indian Artistes’ Association. Vishal said that the body has given its approval. Actor Karthi alleged that the duo, during their tenure, amended the by-laws and made themselves lifetime trustees.
The two previous office bearers were earlier suspended for alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of ₹1.65-crore. An FIR was also lodged against them. Actor/producer Radhika, the wife of Sarathkumar, took to Twitter and lashed out against the current office bearers. “How can they be expelled when the corruption case is still subjudice,” she said. Radha Ravi, meanwhile, claimed to have attained a stay on the suspension notice served to him, and said that this expulsion will not be legally tenable.
Both factions are divided on the number of people who actually attended the meet to pass a resolution of this kind. The Pandavar Ani claimed that the motion to expel the duo was supported by 2000 members out of a total 3000. One-third of the body is a must. Sarathkumar’s camp but have raised their doubts on that figure. There is also speculation on whether the agenda was earlier discussed, which apparently is the norm.
Thanks to the timely intervention by the Chennai ‘Kaaki Sattai’ (meaning police), the situation was brought under control in short span of time. While Vishal’s ‘Kaththi Sandai’ (meaning sword fight) is all set to hit the screens early next year, the sandai (fight) on the ground has definitely not come to ‘The End’ yet. Picture abhi baakhi hai mere dost!
