Chennai: A sharp exchange unfolded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly during the debate on the Governor’s address, after DMK MLA Sivasankar compared the speech to filmmaker Atlee’s style of stitching together popular scenes to deliver a hit.
Sivasankar alleged that the address repackaged “good schemes” from the previous regime in a new form, and said the Opposition was being told not to criticise the government. Citing DMK leader M.K. Stalin’s earlier remark about needing six months to frame and implement new schemes, he argued that people’s problems cannot wait for such a timeline.
He also claimed that even the ruling alliance’s partners had announced protests, and said public anger was driving agitations. The DMK, he said, would continue to raise people’s voice in the House.
Responding, School Education Minister Rajmohan said it was surprising and “shocking” for an MLA to bring film “editing” and Atlee into a legislative debate, asking what the Assembly had to do with the director. He said the strength of democracy lies in the Opposition, but urged members to avoid speaking for provocation and instead engage in constructive work.
Sivasankar, in his reply, said he knew about Atlee as well as the minister’s “Pudchutney” YouTube channel, and pointed to the lasting impact of film dialogues such as those written by M. Karunanidhi for Parasakthi. He added that people now expect “action” from the government, and the debate continued on those lines.
