
New Delhi: South Indian actor Prakash Raj, known for many iconic and memorable roles, is in the midst of social media debate for his ‘aversion and dislike’ for Hindi language.
A video clip of the veteran actor is viral on the social media, in which he is seen losing cool over a person, who speaks to him in Hindi. The actor also slaps the person and warns him to converse in Tamil language.
Actor seen slapping person in Tamil flick
“Speak in Tamil,” says the actor while slapping the person in movie clip.
The video clip is from a much-anticipated Tamil movie Jai Bhim, which released on OTT platform Amazon Prime Video today. The flick is of a courtroom drama based on true events that happened in the state in year 1993 and depicts how caste discrimination & injustice kills people.
Prakash Raj with his propaganda in the movie ‘Jay Bhim’ where he slaps a person who speaks in Hindi. pic.twitter.com/1SwPVssbK7
— Amit Kumar (@AMIT_GUJJU) November 2, 2021
Veteran actor draws ire of netizens
As the video went viral, there are many netizens slamming the actor for his distaste for Hindi language. Actor’s past instances of aversion to Hindi & Modi government has also given a handle to trolls, who are dubbing it as an attempt by the actor to stonewall promotion of Hindi language. At many previous instances also, the actor has been unsparing in his criticism for the language as well as Modi government.
I am really heartbroken after watching #JaiBhim, nothing against actor or anyone but felt really bad, there is a scene in the film where a person speaks Hindi and Prakash Raj slaps him and tells him to speak in Tamil
Honestly this kind of scene was not needed….Hope they cut it
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) November 1, 2021
But he is married to a northie named Pony Verma naa? I never found her talk in tamil even in a single interview.https://t.co/RRREg9bFDj
Appo avangala eppdi….??
— Maha Gyaani (@MahaGyaani) November 2, 2021
You can prefer Tamil over Hindi.
That’s understandable.
But showing a person getting slapped for speaking in Hindi is absolutely wrong ❌
— Rock Star (@dalla420t) November 2, 2021
It’s bizarre and ridiculous. But Speaking English is a literacy matter for some set of people, across pan India. I can guarantee if the person who got slapped had spoken the same in English, the story would be different.
— Harsh Patel ???? (@iharshpatel_) November 2, 2021
They’re spreading hatred against north Indians residing in Tamilnadu.Not done. And secondly why would he speak in Hindi in the govt office of tamilnadu??? None of us will speak in Hindi with them unless we don’t know tamil. In this scene he CAN speak in Tamil!. Kuch bhi!!
— Rakshit Jain (@im_rak24) November 2, 2021
On the other hand, the Centre has constantly laid emphasis on the propagation of Hindi language and also its ‘adoption’ as one of the primary languages for non-Hindi speaking states, especially southern part of the country.