Khushboo draws flak for accepting role in film on EVR

Actress Khushboo has once again drawn flak from the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) of Dr. Ramadoss, an ally of the ruling DMK, for being signed to play the role of genial Maniyammai, the second wife of EVR 'Periyar' Ramasamy, in the biographical film on the late 95-year old social reformer who launched the Dravidian movement in the State.

Sathyaraj, for whom EVR's ideals are dear to his heart, plays the title role in the film. Malayalam heroine Jyotirmayi is acting as EVR's first wife, Nagammai.

Gnana Rajasekar, an IAS officer, is directing the first-ever film on the life and works of EVR (1879-1973). A few years ago he had made award-winning film on the life of the Tamil nationalist poet Subramania Bharati.

Why Khushboo has been selected for the role? Director Rajasekhar says he has matched computer graphics of various actresses with those of Khushboo and him finally chosen her as she has the chubby face of Maniyammai.

The present DMK Government has granted Rs. 95 lakhs towards the cost of production of this film.

EVR Periyar was 72 years old when he married Maniyammai who was 22 then. As EVR did not heed the advice against this marriage, C.N.Annadurai and others closely associated with EVR parted ways with him and started the DMK which Mr. M. Karunanidhi heads after Anna's death.

Maniyammai came to be much-revered as a symbol of devotion and sacrifice for Tamil and for taking good care of the Dravidian patriarch.

The first half of the film has been completed featuring Jyotirmayi as Nagammai. The second half with Khushboo playing Maniyammai is expected to be shot from October.

In this background, PMK member T. Velmurugan, while speaking in the State Assembly on Aug. 28, raised the issue of Khushboo being signed to act as Maniyammai and said the actress had tarnished Tamil culture and denigrated Tamil women by openly expressing her views on pre-marital sex and chastity.

Information Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi told the PMK member that "what is important is the actor's talent and not who the actor is".

Asked to comment on PMK's objection to Kushboo playing Maniyammai, Sathyaraj said:" Minister Ilamvazhuthi has said in the Assembly all that needs to be said."

Khushboo herself seems unperturbed. She was quoted in English daily as saying that "No one has any business to tell me what role I must play in a movie, nobody has done that in all my 20 years of film career."

On the role of Maniyammai, Khushboo said, "She is very excited playing one of the most revered women in recent Tamil history. This is the first time in my career that I am doing so much of homework. The director sent me Maniyammai's photographs. I am waiting for her video clippings to see show she walked, talked, reacted, so that I could give authenticity to the role. I am really excited."

It was the PMK along with Dalit Panthers of India (both partners in SaveTamil Movement) which had launched an agitation against Khushboo for stating her views on pre-martial sex in an interview to a magazine. The demonstrations turned nasty in some places and her effigies were also burnt. The agitation died down with the passing of time.

Will Khushboo be targeted again by "Save Tamil Movement"?