"With the man who started it all...": 'Karuppu' director RJ Balaji meets Tamil Nadu CM
Chennai, June 3
Filmmaker RJ Balaji, whose directorial 'Karuppu' recently opened in theatres following a series of hurdles, met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S Joseph Vijay and expressed gratitude.
In an X post, the director shared pictures from his meeting with CM Vijay, crediting him for the efforts towards 'Karuppu'.
"With the man who started it all for #Karuppu!!! Wow...! Feels unreal to meet him now as the honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu!!! Same love, warmth, kindness and calmness...!!! Thank you for everything dearest Vijay sir," he wrote.
Earlier, the makers of Suriya and Trisha Krishnan starrer 'Karuppu' thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay for allowing special 9 am morning shows for the film ahead of its release on May 14.
The production house shared a note on X expressing gratitude to the newly elected Chief Minister. Along with the note, they also posted a picture of Vijay with a message from the team of Suriya.
The post read, "Special thanks to our honorable Chief Minister Thiru. Joseph Vijay for granting the special permission for the 9AM shows of #Karuppu. #Karuppu - FDFS begins at 9AM, from May 14th A @SaiAbhyankkar Musical."
CM Vijay also congratulated the film's team after it showcased a strong performance at the box office.
The makers shared that the Chief Minister conveyed his wishes to producer SR Prabu for the film's success.
Sharing a picture on social media, the team thanked the Chief Minister for his support. The post read, "We are overjoyed to share that our Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Joseph Vijay, has extended his heartfelt wishes and congratulations to our producer @prabhu_sr for the grand success of THE ONE @Suriya_offl's #Karuppu. It is truly wonderful and heartwarming for our entire team to receive his wishes."
Written and directed by RJ Balaji, 'Karuppu' stars Suriya and Trisha Krishnan in lead roles. The film also features Indrans, Natty, Swasika, Sshivada, Anagha Maya Ravi and Supreeth Reddy in crucial roles.
The music for the film has been composed by Sai Abhyankkar.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is such a wholesome interaction! RJ Balaji has always been a voice for the common man through his radio shows and now as a filmmaker. Getting permission for 9 AM shows is no small feat - in our state, most theaters only start afternoon shows unless there's huge demand. Vijay sir seems genuinely interested in supporting Tamil cinema beyond just politics. Hope Karuppu continues its success at the box office! ❤️
Great to see the Chief Minister prioritizing cultural affairs even after elections. But I do wonder - is this special treatment for star-studded films fair? Small indie films struggle to get theaters, forget about early morning shows. Also, while I appreciate the gesture, these permissions should be standard for all films wanting to do early screenings, not just for those connected to celebrities. Still, happy for the Karuppu team! 🙂
Interesting to see how a popular actor turned CM is engaging with the film industry. In Western countries, this kind of meeting between a filmmaker and a state leader would be considered political patronage. But in the Indian context, especially Tamil Nadu with its deep cinema culture, it feels organic and culturally appropriate. RJ Balaji's journey from radio jockey to director meeting the CM is genuinely inspiring!
🙏 What a beautiful moment! With the man who started it all... RJ Balaji's words show such genuine gratitude. Suriya and Trisha must be thrilled that their hard work received CM's appreciation. I love how Tamil Nadu embraces both politics and cinema. Hoping this encourages more filmmakers to tell diverse stories. But yes, as a common cinema lover, I just wish our Andhra and Telangana politicians would show similar appreciation for our film industries! #Karuppu
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