Kamal Haasan's Sandiyar title sparks caste row, Puthiya Tamilagam founder objects

The return of the title Sandiyar for Kamal Haasan’s upcoming film has brought back a controversy that dates back more than two decades. A newly unveiled poster for the film, directed by SU Arun Kumar, has once again put the spotlight on the title’s caste-related connotations, with Puthiya Tamilagam Party founder DR K Krishnasamy objecting to its revival.The term, which can refer to a street fighter, troublemaker or rogue, has also been associated with dominant-caste strongmen and caste-based rowdyism in Tamil Nadu. Krishnasamy has described the decision to bring back the title as an "act of revenge" and accused Kamal Haasan of arrogance.The objection is not new. In 2004, Kamal had initially named his film Virumaandi Sandiyar. The title faced opposition from Krishnasamy then, who argued that it carried caste implications and risked glorifying the power of dominant caste groups. The controversy was also fuelled by the film’s promotional imagery, particularly a poster featuring Kamal holding a sickle.Critics of the title and its visual presentation felt that the combination could be read as an endorsement of caste-based aggression and the assertion of dominant groups. The protests at the time raised concerns about the film’s production and the possibility of disruption. Krishnasamy led the protests, arguing that it could create social tensions in a state where caste identity and violence have long been sensitive subjects. The dispute reportedly threatened to affect the film’s shoot.Kamal Haasan had sought the support of then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, but the government did not extend the protection he had sought. The film was eventually renamed Virumaandi, a move that helped the makers steer clear of the escalating controversy and the security and financial concerns surrounding the production. More than 20 years later, the decision to use Sandiyar again has reopened that debate. Speaking to the media, Krishnasamy questioned why Kamal had chosen to revive a title that had faced such strong opposition in the past. He suggested that the decision, made around the actor’s birthday, reflected his arrogance.He also referred to some of Kamal’s popular screen characters and argued that their names and portrayals carried caste-related elements. Krishnasamy further warned that the actor could face a situation where he would be forced to leave Tamil Nadu frequently if the film retained the title.The latest objection places the film’s title at the centre of a debate that goes beyond a naming choice. While Sandiyar is being revived for a new project, its history is inseparable from the objections raised in 2004 over the way the word and its associated imagery could be interpreted in the state’s caste and political landscape.The upcoming film marks the first collaboration between Kamal Haasan and SU Arun Kumar, who is known for directing Chithha and Veera Dheera Sooran. Further details about the film’s plot and its cast are awaited.- Ends