Tamil actor-director Ranjith claims honor killings aren't violent; sparks outrage
Tamil actor-director Ranjith has sparked a row with his recent remarks defending honor killings—a notorious caste-based crime. The comments were made during a media interaction in Karuppur, Salem, on Friday. Ranjith's statements have been widely criticized, particularly as calls for stricter laws against honor killings intensify. The actor was in Karuppur for the screening of his film Kavundampalayalam, which addresses contentious issues such as caste violence and parental control over children.
'It is not violence, it's just their care for them...'
When questioned about honor killings, Ranjith defended the act, stating, "Only parents know the pain. If a bike gets stolen, won't we go and see what happened?" He added, "Those parents for whom life is all about their children get angry and show it. It is not violence, it's just their care for them." His comments have been met with widespread disbelief and condemnation.
Ranjith's response to criticism
Enraged netizens took to X/Twitter to express their disapproval of the actor's statement. One user commented, "It's a democracy, a film by Pa Ranjith and this Ranjith can coexist, but we should also consider how regressive propaganda influences the already messed-up society we live in that justifies honor killings." In response to the criticism, Ranjith claimed that a group of people was working against him. However, his justification of honor killings continues to face censure from both audiences and critics.
Ranjith's history of controversial statements
This is not the first time Ranjith has faced backlash for his contentious remarks. He previously drew criticism for his comments on women's attire at public events. His films have also been criticized for their portrayal of women as submissive and traditional. Despite the controversy, Ranjith maintains that his latest film Kavundampalayalam was made with good intentions and received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
