Actors in Tamil Nadu mull separate fast

(October 16, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Caught between the pressure from many artists who were not keen to go to Rameswaram (for the three-day demonstration/ rally on the Lankan Tamils issue) and the pull from many quarters to show solidarity for the Lankan Tamils, the Nadigar Sangam seems to have arrived at a compromise.

It is veering around to the idea of holding a separate fast in Chennai some time next month (probably on 1 November).

The Nadigar Sangam, whose honchos had been brainstorming on the issue for the last two days, is expected to make a formal announcement later today.

The Nadigar Sangam, which is the apex body of Tamil film artists, had been under considerable pressure ever since the emotional and maverick director Bharathiraja announced a three-day demonstration cum rally in the island town of Rameswaram as a symbol of protest against the treatment meted out to the Tamils in Lanka.

Bharathiraja, speaking on behalf of several associations and unions in the industry, had announced that the entire Tamil cinema fraternity would take part at the rally in Rameswaram from 18 to 20 October.

However, the Nadigar Sangam had not been consulted on the matter. This itself was a major let down for the artists. Further, the logistics involved in going to Rameswaram and shutting down the industry for three days did not go down well with the actors and actresses.

Security issues and the short lead time for the rally were also factors that put the artists off. More importantly, the misgivings that they were being used in the political battle (Vijayakanth’s DMDK’s youth conference is scheduled for 18 October) also weighed heavily on the artists mind.

In the event, the Nadigar Sangam, which understood the predicament of its members, has come to the idea of a separate fast in Chennai. It is most likely to be held on 1 November.

Sources say that the Nadigar Sangam has an open mind on the Rameswaram rally. ‘We will not be boycotting it. Those who can make it to that are welcome to go ahead. But we understand that there are lot of practical difficulties in the matter.

Hence the idea to hold a full-fledged fast in Chennai and show our solidarity to the Lankan Tamils,’ a source said today. - Sri Lanka Guardian