Setting to rest a raging controversy in Kollywood, award-winning filmmaker Bala on Friday said that his untitled film’s storyline would not clash with the script of ‘Kutraparambarai’, being directed by veteran director Bharathiraja.
“I am being unnecessarily dragged into this issue. Bharathiraja’s Kutraparambarai and my film will not have any similarity. I have been repeatedly accused of stealing the story,” said Bala at a press conference. Both the films are reportedly set in a time period when a powerful South Indian community, which was identified as a ‘criminal tribe’ by the British colonial government, protested against the discrimination. He said that a writer close to Bharathiraja had been repeatedly making unsavoury comments in the media and casting aspersions though he had repeatedly clarified that his film was different. “How can anyone claim ownership over an historical event? My film is partly inspired by a novel that is also set in the same time period,” he said, adding, “Bharathiraja has been claiming ownership over the subject because of his social identity. I reject this argument.”
While confirming that actors Arya and Vishal will be playing important roles in the film, he condemned the statement reportedly made by Bharathiraja that actors of non-Tamil lineage (Arya and Vishal) cannot be playing lead roles in a movie about a politically powerful community in Tamil Nadu.
