Nadigar Sangam holds condolence meet for Karunanidhi

On Monday, Nadigar Sangam held a condolence meeting for the late DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi. The event was attended by the late leader's son and working president of the party, MK Stalin along with the entire industry comprising of South Indian Artistes Association, FEFSI and Chinnathirai Nadigar Sangam and Kootamaippu. The event, which commenced with the lighting of candles by MK Stalin, was attended by Rajinikanth, Nasser, Vishal, Karthi, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Revathi, Vikram Prabhu, Radharavi, Jiiva, KT Kunjumon, SP Muthuraman, and Radharavi, among others.

In the meeting at Kamarajar Hall, Rajini mourned the demise of the DMK patriarch saying his triumphs in the field of politics, literature and cinema are unparalleled. 

In an unusual request, Rajini urged the decision makers of the ruling ADMK party to place Karunanidhi's photo next to their founder MG Ramachandran's picture during the party's anniversary celebrations. 

Mincing no words in expressing his displeasure over the judicial proceedings that preceded Karunanidhi's burial, Rajini lashed out saying he would have personally protested if the Tamil Nadu government had decided to appeal the Madras High Court's judgement allowing the leader to be buried at Marina beach. 

The actor also questioned the absence of Tamil Nadu CM Edapadi Palaniswamy and other ministers during the last rites of Karunanidhi, especially when politicians from other states across party lines were present. Adding that the present ADMK politicians were not doyens like MGR and J Jayalalithaa, he expressed displeasure over the continued animosity between the two parties.

Also speaking at the meeting, Nadigar Sangam president Nasser showered praise on Karunanidhi's cinematic contributions and said that Tamil cinema would have been 20 years behind if not for Parasakthi. Actor Radharavi remarked that Kalaignar Karunanidhi was a symbol of Tamil pride worldwide and called him a "self-taught individual who was easily approachable due to his down-to-earth nature". He added that Karunanidhi will be in the hearts of every Tamilian and will be immortalised in Tamil culture. Actor Bhagyaraj recalled the time he was a 13-year-old watching Poompuhar for the first time. He mentioned how the moment Karunanidhi appeared on screen was the first time he saw a screenwriter getting applause. Actor Vishal, the vice president of the organisation, insisted that the famous pen of Karunanidhi be showcased at the Nadigar Sangam premises to further cement his legacy