Actor R Parthiban has landed in a fresh piece of controversy, following his contentious comments about Trisha and Vijay recently. Speaking at a promotional event for his upcoming Telugu film, Ustaad Bhagat Singh, co-starring Pawan Kalyan, the actor introduced himself as someone hailing from a particular community.
"I am Radhakrishnan Parthiban, a Naidu boy," the actor revealed. He went on to add that his Telugu background helped him become fluent in Tamil. "After the film is released, I will act in many films in Telugu and definitely will come and meet you, particularly for the success of this film," he said. Then, referring to himself as 'Moorthy,' his 'original name,' R Parthiban said that would learn how to speak fluently in Telugu by then.
The actor-filmmaker then expressed his gratitude to the Tamil film industry for the opportunities he has received here, allowing him to foray into Telugu cinema. However, his references to caste during the event have courted controversy. Some users said that the actor-filmmaker's comments go against his own anti-caste stance at the Margazhiyil Makkal Isai festival, organised by Neelam Cultural Centre of Pa Ranjith, who is also known for his advocacy against caste. According to them, the comments lay bare his hypocrisy.
The filmmaker-actor has also been criticised for his use of a derogatory term against the people of Tamil Nadu. The actor is notorious for his wordplay, which often lands him in controversial territory, as with the row over his comments about Trisha. Netizens argue that the use of the aforesaid term is dated and derogatory by modern standards and that with it, he was attempting to incite a conversation regarding cultural identity and historical roots. Many in today's times regard it as an outsider's word carrying a derogatory undertone.
