The Tamil Nadu Youth Congress has called for a ban on the recently released Tamil film Parasakthi, alleging that it contains fabricated scenes, historical distortions, and defamatory portrayals of Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj.
While critics argue that Parasakthi has exposed a rift between allies Congress and DMK in Tamil Nadu, the Congress has hit out at the DMK-backed film, objecting particularly to scenes involving Indira Gandhi.
Arun Bhaskar, State Senior Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress, in a formal statement shared on social media by Congress spokesperson M Kumaramangalam on 12 January, said, “Parasakthi is a film that must be strictly banned,” accusing the filmmakers of deliberately inventing incidents and presenting them as historical fact in order to malign the Indian National Congress. He alleged that the film falsely portrays key events linked to the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu.
The Congress leader objected to scenes that suggest the Congress government imposed Hindi-only forms across India, calling it “a complete fabrication deliberately created to malign our party.” He also criticised a sequence in which Sivakarthikeyan’s character is shown meeting Indira Gandhi, claiming the film portrays her in a “villainous manner” in scenes that never occurred.
He further said the movie falsely shows Indira Gandhi visiting Coimbatore on 12 February 1965 and fabricates scenes of a train being set on fire in her presence, adding, “None of these events ever happened in history.”
Precisely why INC is in the doldrums. RaGa doesn't even acknowledge his Youth and party members! https://t.co/E4rfAnJc9y pic.twitter.com/KzBkX7IZeh
— Saikiran Kannan | 赛基兰坎南 (@saikirankannan) January 13, 2026
The Congress also objected to the film’s ending, which displays real photographs of K Kamaraj, Indira Gandhi, and Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, while allegedly accusing the Congress of killing more than 200 Tamil people in Pollachi. Bhaskar said the claim was made “without a shred of evidence” and amounted to serious defamation.
Arun Bhaskar called the film a “deliberate distortion of historical truth,” demanding that “all scenes depicting events that never took place be removed immediately.” He also called upon the film’s production team to issue a public apology, warning that strict legal action would follow if the demands were not met.
He concluded the statement by urging party workers to protest, saying, “I call upon all Congress workers to raise their voices against this injustice,” and added the hashtag #BanParasakthiMovie.
BJP leader Narayan Thirupathi, reacting on X, said the Congress party had earlier termed the legal actions of the Central Board of Film Certification on the film Jananayagan as anti-democratic and against freedom of expression, but was now demanding a ban on Parasakthi.
He said this double standard was “utterly shameful” and showed the extent to which the Congress was willing to compromise democratic values for political gains.
The Congress party @INCIndia calls the legal actions of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) on the film Jananayagan’s release as anti-democratic and against freedom of expression. But the same Congress party is now demanding a ban on the film Parashakti —…
— Narayanan Thirupathy (@narayanantbjp) January 13, 2026
Netizens also condemned Rahul Gandhi for accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of delaying film certification. One user said that while Joseph Vijay’s film facing a delay (as had happened even with Kangana Ranaut’s movie) was projected as an attack on Tamil culture, INDI alliance leaders calling Tamilians “Lungi-Pungi” was ignored. The user pointed out what was termed as hypocrisy, noting that the Youth Congress had written a letter demanding a ban on Parasakthi in Tamil Nadu.
-Vijay’s film facing some delay (even Kangana Ranaut’s movie was delayed) is an attack on Tamil culture
-INDI alliance leaders calling Tamilians “Lungi-Pungi” is not?Now look at the hypocrisy, Youth Congress literally wrote a letter demanding a ban on Parasakthi in Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/VWaWsudSCI
— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) January 13, 2026
Another netizen, Aravind Eswaran, questioned Rahul Gandhi on whether he had watched Parasakthi, produced by a relative of MK Stalin and distributed by the son of Udhayanidhi Stalin. He alleged that the film directly attacked the Congress on Hindi imposition, portrayed then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Bakthavatchalam in foul language, and depicted Indira Gandhi as well. He also claimed that while the DMK camp projected the film as successful, it had limited theatrical presence.
Critics said Rahul Gandhi lives in a “dream world” and backed Joseph Vijay’s Jana Nayagan after accusing the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of attempting to block its release, terming it an attack on Tamil culture.
Critics pointed out that Rahul Gandhi appeared to forget the number of films blocked during earlier Congress governments. They alleged that his support for Vijay was aimed at aligning with the latter’s TVK for the upcoming State elections, and said the timing of his statement was significant.
BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan accused Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy, recalling instances during the Emergency when songs of Kishore Kumar were banned from All India Radio and films such as ‘Aandhi’ and ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’ were prohibited. He also referred to the Tamil film Kutrapathrikkai, completed in 1992, which was not allowed to be released for 15 years during a Congress-led Centre.
Rahul Gandhi is a shameless habitual liar and peddler of fakery. It was Rahul Gandhi’s Congress led UPA Govt which insulted the sentiment, culture and pride of Tamil people by demeaningly terming the revered Jallikattu as barbaric. The UPA Govt vehemently opposed Jallikattu,… pic.twitter.com/Cc9YOxDvvY
— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) January 13, 2026
At an event held in Gudalur in the Nilgiris district, Rahul Gandhi, while participating in the golden jubilee celebrations of St Thomas English High School, spoke on democracy and education, alleging attacks on democratic institutions and stressing the need for affordable education.
St. Thomas High School in Tamil Nadu invited politician Rahul Gandhi for its Golden Jubilee.
They played BJ Yatra videos in the background, while teachers kept telling his ‘contribution’ to India.
Why is a school promoting Congress ideology? pic.twitter.com/phtoAKgbAW
— BALA (@erbmjha) January 13, 2026
BJP leader K Annamalai termed Rahul Gandhi’s remarks a “self-goal,” pointing out the irony of delivering a speech against privatisation from the stage of a private educational institution in a State where DMK leaders themselves run extensive private education networks.
