In the backdrop of communal violence in the nation, popular South-Indian star Sai Pallavi in a recent interview said, “Some days ago, this movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ was released. In that, they showed how Kashmiri Pandits living there at that time were killed. More recently, during the Covid time…if you’re taking it as a religious conflict, recently, a Muslim man who was transporting cows was stopped and beaten up and was forced to chant slogans of Jai Shri Ram. So what happened then, and what happened now, we can’t see any difference.”
Dear @Sai_Pallavi92
There is a huge difference in a random Muslim being beaten & an entire community being uprooted.
Please don't trivialise my pain.
Come & see any of our broken homes & hearts. We are witnesses to Genocide but await justice.
Not Everything is Propaganda. pic.twitter.com/YhN9r2QTKM
— Kashmiri Hindu (@BattaKashmiri) June 14, 2022
When asked about her political inclination, the actor said that she grew up in a neutral family and learned to be a good human being. “I was taught I should protect the ones who are being hurt. The oppressed should be protected,” she said.
“பசுவுக்காக இஸ்லாமியர் அடித்துக் கொல்லப்படுகிறார்கள்.. ஆனால், ” : ‘காஷ்மீர் பைல்ஸ்’ குறித்து நடிகை சாய் பல்லவி பேசியது என்ன?https://t.co/ZespcIZmld#SaiPallavi #KashmiriPandits #Kashmirifiles
— Kalaignar Seithigal (@Kalaignarnews) June 15, 2022
Pallavi added that “Justice won’t be there either on the side of the right or the left if you are not a good human being. I’m very neutral. So what I believe is if you are stronger than me, and you are oppressing me, then you are in the wrong. A large number of people oppressing a small group of people is wrong. A battle has to be fought between two equals.”
#SaiPallavi 🔥🔥 We appreciate your courage. pic.twitter.com/YkOC8VLyxB
— Ritu Choudhary (@RituChoudhryINC) June 15, 2022
She made her comments during the promotion of her upcoming movie ‘Virata Parvam’ on the YouTube channel Great Andhra. The movie is inspired by true events of the 1990s. It chronicles a love story against the backdrop of the Naxal movement in the Telangana region. Sai Pallavi plays the character of Vennela, who falls in love with Naxal leader Ravanna (Rana Daggubati).
Equating the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits with the random beating of a cow smuggler.
What kind of thinking is this @Sai_Pallavi92 ..? #KashmiriPandits #KashmiriFiles @vivekagnihotri pic.twitter.com/diZ5Ik8Kvc
— Maraveni Ranjith Kumar (@Ranjith_abvp) June 14, 2022
Twitteratis gave mixed reactions to Pallavi’s comments. While some praised her courage, others, especially Hindutva groups heavily trolled her, condemning her words.
Although the actress is known for talking about social issues, her comments must be taken with a pinch of salt as they were made during a film’s promotion.
References: Deccan Herald, NDTV
Featured Image Source: The Quint
