Chennai, May 24
Pointing out that movie piracy was not only illegal but also an act of abandoning humanity, actor Soori, whose film 'Maaman' hit screens recently, has now made an emotional appeal to the public, asking them not to download and watch pirated versions of films.
Taking to his X timeline, the comedian-turned-hero penned a lengthy post in Tamil in which he said," A film is not just entertainment... it is the combination of the dreams and hard work of many people. This post is not just for my film. Behind every film is the work, sacrifice, faith, and concern of hundreds of people."
Stating that making a film was like the birth of a child, the actor said, "Starting from the story, shooting, background work, editing, music, advertisements, every stage is built with an unwavering determination, mixed with emotion."
He went on to say, "Whether a film wins or loses… it is a journey. That journey is a mixture of pain, joy, and hope. After putting in so much of effort, when some people secretly download and watch it online and share it proudly, it breaks our hearts. For that one 'view', we are destroying someone's years of hard work."
Pointing out that movies were not only created to entertain people, but were sometimes also a means of conveying important ideas in society, the actor said some films were actually a reflection of some people's lives.
"Piracy, without respecting all this selfless work, is not only illegal; it is also an act of abandoning humanity," Soori said and requested audiences not to download pirated content.
"Watch movies the right way and respect the work of those who made them. Your support is the greatest reward for a creator. If each of us acts in a responsible manner, the film industry can rise even higher.#SayNoToPiracy #RespectOthersEfforts," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Soori makes a valid point! As someone who has friends in the film industry, I've seen firsthand how piracy affects livelihoods. It's not just about stars - spot boys, technicians, small theater owners all suffer. We need stricter laws against piracy websites. ðŸ™
While I agree with the sentiment, movie tickets have become so expensive for common families. If theaters reduce prices and OTT platforms make subscriptions more affordable, people won't turn to piracy. The industry needs to find a middle ground.
Emotional speech by Soori! In Tamil we say "Kalviyum karpavum kadan" (Education and hard work are debts). Piracy is like stealing someone's hard-earned money. I've stopped watching pirated films after realizing how it affects small artists. Big salute to Soori for speaking up! 💯
The government should block piracy websites like they do with gambling sites. I recently read that India loses ₹20,000 crore annually due to piracy - that's taxpayers' money lost! Also, young people need awareness - they think downloading movies is cool without realizing the consequences.
I disagree slightly - sometimes piracy helps regional cinema reach global audiences. Many NRIs discover good Tamil/Malayalam films through torrents first, then legally support later. The industry should focus more on making content accessible worldwide through proper channels.
Soori's words touched my heart â¤ï¸ My brother works as a junior artist in Chennai and his payments often get delayed when films suffer losses due to piracy. People don't realize that behind every film there are hundreds of families depending on its success. #SupportOriginalContent
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.