A Dravidian Model initiative by the DMK government, designed to screen films in schools as a means of stress relief and educational engagement, has drawn significant criticism from parents and the public. The controversy centers around the recent screening of Vijay’s GOAT and Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan at a government-aided girls’ higher secondary school in VK Puram, near Ambasamudram, in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
The screenings took place on November 9, 2024, when senior students watched GOAT and younger students in grades 1 to 5 viewed Vettaiyan. The school, which accommodates around 1,700 students from grades 1 to 12, has faced backlash from parents who questioned the appropriateness of the selected films. In response, the government has ordered an investigation into the screenings to address concerns raised by parents and the public regarding the scheme’s implementation and content choices.
The screening of two films at a school event recently raised concerns among parents, who questioned the suitability of the content shown to young students. Upon learning about the films, some parents voiced apprehensions over the age-appropriateness of the material.
Following the public outcry, the District Education Department initiated an investigation to determine how the films were selected, whether parental consent was obtained, and if the content complied with educational standards. The school management and local officials have faced criticism over the issue and are cooperating with the inquiry, providing details about the event and the circumstances surrounding the screening.
Media reports and locals claim that over 600 students attended recent film screenings at a school, with Rs. 25 charged per student for GOAT and Rs. 10 for Vettaiyan. Allegations have surfaced that students were pressured to pay these fees and watch the films. The controversy intensified after the Hindu Munnani raised questions about whether the school obtained the proper permissions for these screenings, accusing the school of potentially exploiting school hours for financial gain. Their objections, shared on social media, have sparked widespread criticism.
Parents and locals have particularly protested against the screening of Vettaiyan, a Rajinikanth film that opens with a dedication to Thomas Babington Macaulay, which many found controversial. They argue that Macaulay’s education reforms dismantled traditional street veranda schools and the Gurukul system, replacing them with a model aimed at producing English-speaking government workers. While Vettaiyan attempts to address issues like drug abuse in government schools, parents noted that it quickly shifts into unrealistic scenes that they perceive as propaganda rather than sincere storytelling.
Following the release of Vettaiyan on October 10, the film faced backlash for its portrayal of a government school in Gandhi Nagar, Kovilpatti, leading to a formal complaint at the Kovilpatti East Police Station. Residents of the Gandhinagar area organized a blockade at the Kovilpatti Lakshmi Theater, demanding the removal of controversial scenes or the halt of the film’s screening.
Journalist Thinakaran Rajamani shared on his X handle that a government-aided girls’ higher secondary school in VK Puram, Tirunelveli, had also come under scrutiny for screening films starring Vijay (GOAT) and Rajinikanth (Vettaiyan). Allegations have emerged that students were coerced into paying for the screenings.
A government-aided girls’ higher secondary school in VK Puram in Tirunelveli has come under fire for screening films starring actors Vijay (GOAT) and Rajinikanth (Vettaiyan). The allegations also surfaced that students were forced to pay for the screenings. pic.twitter.com/AsIwDq0ybY
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) November 12, 2024
In another tweet, journalist Thinakaran Rajamani reported that, according to CEO Sivakumar, the school headmaster explained that the screenings were intended to help reduce stress among students.
Last July, the Dravidian Model government announced plans for state-run schools in Tamil Nadu to hold dedicated screenings of children’s films, with 13,000 schools across all districts identified for the initiative.
Under the new scheme, movies are set to be screened for middle, high, and higher secondary school students from classes 6 to 12. Films will be shown during the second week of each month, with students encouraged to provide feedback. A dedicated period will be allocated for screenings, and equipment such as overhead projectors and white screens will be purchased and installed in schools. Students will be charged for viewing films on a rotation basis, and they will also be trained to operate the equipment. Since the start of the academic year, seven children’s films, beginning with The Kid (1921), have been screened for students in Classes VI to IX.
However, the screening of films like Vettaiyan and GOAT has raised concerns among parents, the public, and critics. Questions are being asked about whether these films, which were shown to students, fit within the educational and informational genres. Critics are also questioning who authorized and selected these films for student viewing and what message they aim to convey to young minds.
