Actor Suriya thanks fans for 'overwhelming' support after receiving threats over 'Jai Bhim'
Chennai/IBNS: Actor Suriya has thanked his fans for their 'overwhelming' support after he received threats and a legal notice over his new film 'Jai Bhim'.
"Dear all, this love for 'Jai Bhim' is overwhelming. I've never witnessed this before! Can't express in words how thankful I am for the trust and reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us," the actor tweeted.
Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. I’ve never witnessed this before! Can’t express in words how thankful I am for the trust & reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us ✊🏼
— Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) November 17, 2021
On Wednesday evening, armed police were deployed at his home in Chennai's T Nagar area following threats of violence against the 46-year-old.
Soon after that, support poured for the actor with the hashtag #WeStandWithSuriya, and it emerged as a top trend on Twitter.
Among those to tweet with the hashtag #WeStandWithSuriya and show support was fellow Tamil filmmaker Venkat Prabhu, who tweeted: "Stand by what is right even if it means standing alone."
Stand for what is right even if it means standing alone#WeStandWithSuriya #JaiBhim pic.twitter.com/FDCe60sOiy
— venkat prabhu (@vp_offl) November 15, 2021
Actor Krishh tweeted: "He who can see the invisible, can do the impossible..."
"He Who can see the invisible, Can do the Impossible..." @Suriya_offl#WeStandWithSuriya#Jaibhim pic.twitter.com/NkvGqiaHjt
— KRISHH (@krishoffl) November 16, 2021
The Tribal Army Twitter handle also posted: "We support social justice. We support humanism. We are against casteism. We support Inclusiveness. We support holistic development of this society. We support Truth And so #WeStandWithSuriya."
We support Social Justice, We support Humanism, We are against Casteism, We support Inclusiveness, We support holistic Development of this Society. We support Truth And so#WeStandWithSuriya @Suriya_offl pic.twitter.com/7AoVzMjB4J
— Tribal Army (@TribalArmy) November 14, 2021
Several others also tweeted support for the actor including the All India Suriya Fans Club, which urged their hero to not dignify his detractors with a response.
Journalists praised the actor for the film and its message.
Tweets also poured in from fans in neighbouring Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Security around Suriya's home has been increased after a member of the PMK (a regional political party) offered Rs. 1 lakh for anyone who physically attacked the actor.
The PMK leader, S Palaniswamy, has been booked by the police, said reports.
Suriya, who also produced 'Jai Bhim' and the film's director have also been named in a legal notice - that claims Rs. 5 crore in damages and warns of criminal cases.
It was filed by the Vanniyar Sangam, a group that represents the Vanniyar community that is dominant in northern parts of the state.
Some scenes have triggered the controversy including a shot that shows a man from the Vanniyar community torturing a man from the Irula tribal community.
The Vanniyar Sangam claims the scene "denigrates" the community, and has questioned the renaming of the character to Gurumoorthy.
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