“You hear what they want you to hear!” | Baahubali 2 Apology Row | Sathyaraj vs Rajinikanth

It was 2008. Cauvery water issue between Tamilnadu and Karnataka was at the peak. Karnataka refused to provide water to Tamilnadu and when the court insisted, riots broke out in Karnataka started by fringe language groups and a lot of damage was done to Tamilnadu properties.

Tamil actors, as usual, formed a meeting to support Tamilnadu and Sathyaraj and Rajinikanth, everyone spoke against the fringe groups and when Sathyaraj pointed hands towards the fringe groups and Rajinikanth, towards the miscreants who has to be hit for such damages and stopping the water.

Days passed by, Kuselan, Rajinikanth\’s movie was about to release and Karnataka\’s fringe groups headed by Vattal Nagaraj warned against releasing the movie in Karnataka because of the aforementioned speech. A movie is made from hard work of numerous artists and technicians and owned by a Producer. Delaying or banning the release will definitely affect each one of them and Rajinikanth was forced to issue an apology in which he stated the following.

\”I issued a warning and spoke about the miscreants who caused damage to public properties and not against all Kannadigas. I even eye witnessed people damaging properties of Tamils in Hosur. It was them who I spoke against. I am a normal man and I learn from my mistakes and I apologize if I have hurt anyone by that speech and I will make sure I will not repeat it again.\”

This caused a huge uproar in Tamilnadu and many leaders and actors, including Sathyaraj, condemned Rajinikanth for his apology and the media projected it as a big backstab to TN people.

However, now the same problem happened to Sathyaraj and the same fringe group asked for an apology from him to release the magnificent Baahubali 2 in Karnataka. Today, Sathyaraj issued a \”statement of regret\” for the same.

\”I have got to know that what I had spoken during the Cauvery water crisis has created a lot of tension among the people of Karnataka. I am not against Kannadigas or Karnataka. The biggest example for this is that for the last 35 years my assistant has been Shekar who is a Kannadiga. I would like to apologize for the statement that I had made nine years back and would like to say that I am a small worker in Bahubali film and my comment should not affect the film. I appeal to Tamils to understand. I clearly state that even in future, I will continue to support Tamil people, Cauvery conflict, and the farmer issue. I will raise my voice for it and for anything that involves the welfare of Tamil people. If producers feel that in future there will be a problem in casting Sathyaraj in their film, don\’t cast me in those films and incur losses. Don\’t cast such an ordinary actor like me in future, it is my sincere request, and incur losses. More than being an actor or dying as an actor, I am very happy to live and die as Tamilian\”

The Surprise:

In this backdrop, what surprised us was the way media and even a section of people reacted to the issue.

Cinema is a big business and a lot of money is at stake during every release. Also, for Rajinikanth\’s movie or a big budget movie like Baahubali 2 involves too much of cash and requires release in all possible areas for good returns. Also, actors like Rajinikanth and Sathyaraj would have got their salaries and they needn\’t care for the release. But, they take it up as their responsibility to make sure the movie releases smoothly because of the professional commitment and which is the practical way of looking at these things.

The words might differ but, they both regretted and clarified that they are not against all Kannadigas but, only the select group of people causing issues. But, what was considered and projected as backstab for Rajinikanth is deemed as the right and honest thing for Sathyaraj. Maybe the choice of words or the inclusion of certain things, but, why do certain people keen on abusing Rajinikanth even now?

It\’s simple. Rajinikanth is too successful. Yes. Too successful to the level that any word against him spreads faster than praises. Also, one gains popularity instantaneously if you abuse some big stars and for other stars, you can just praise them or leave them as they are.

Same thing happened with Kamal Haasan for umpteen times, starting from Virumaandi release to Vishwaroopam release. Rajinikanth\’s Baba release to Kuselan release.

And also, this is all dirty politics. Sathyaraj acted multiple movies in last 9 years after the speech, but, this fringe group never stopped its release but, they do it now for \”Baahubali 2\” which is huge. just huge movie. Blocking it would cause enough sensation and good popularity for them rather than \”Raja Rani\” or any such Sathyaraj starring normal movie. On the other side, every Rajinikanth movie is a huge movie and they did the same for the immediate next movie he acted after the speech.

Finally, media and politicians project what they want us to hear and we fall for it easily and abuse people they want us to abuse. Yesterday it was Rajinikanth. Tomorrow, it might be you. Yeah. Even you if you have good popularity among masses at least in your locality.

Be sensible. Be Practical. Think multiple times before you do your comparison charts and hurt everyone who doesn\’t align with your views or who doesn\’t do things the way you want it to be done. For every man is unique.

\”They say what you want to hear. You react the same way they want you to react. Finally, you become a puppet to them and the sad part is you never realize it. Forever.\”