Why Dalit Film Director Pa Ranjith’s ‘Protest’ Against Dravidian Politics Won't Amount To Much

Tamil film director Pa Ranjith, famous for making the Rajinikanth-starrer Kabali, recently organised a rally in Chennai, demanding a fair investigation into the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state president K Armstrong.

Ranjith, who belongs to a Dalit community, demanded that elected Dalit leaders should speak up to those in power.

This was seen mainly as a criticism of Dalit leaders in the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its alliance partner, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

The VCK is seen as the biggest party of Dalits in the state and party chief Thol Thirumavalavan is considered their tallest leader.

Armstrong’s death had caused considerable outrage. Thirumavalavan too had sided with BSP chief Mayawati and asked for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He had also said that the actual suspects had not been arrested by the state police.

While the VCK chief’s stand did cause some embarrassment for the DMK, the matter soon settled down and the state police went ahead with its investigation. 

But Ranjith’s protest, a couple of weeks after Armstrong's death, channelised the pent-up anger against the regime.

While there is widespread dissatisfaction among Dalits against Dravidian politics, and Ranjith keeps making the news every once in a while with remarks reflecting these sentiments, it is unlikely that he would be able to come across as a political challenger to established players anytime soon.

Here's why —

The cinema industry in Tamil Nadu, as is well known, is under the influence of the DMK. Red Giant Movies, a company connected to Chief Minister M K Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, is often accused of a near-monopoly over film distribution.

Therefore, Ranjith could find the going tough if the DMK chooses to make it difficult for him.

Further, he is also unlikely to receive support from those who do not like Dravidian politics due to his controversial comments on Hinduism.

Ranjith had said that if Hindus consider cows as gods, he is the one who eats their god, and that lands of Hindu mutts should be distributed to Dalits.

Besides, the Dalit vote is fragmented. 

While the two major Dalit groups Parayars and Arunthathiyars are with the DMK alliance, the Devendra Kula Vellalars (DKV) are split between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), DMK, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and Puthiya Tamizhagam. 

And the loyalties are solid. The Arunthathiyars are mostly with the DMK as the party gave them a 3 per cent sub-quota within the Scheduled Caste quota.

The Parayars are with the VCK and look up to Thirumavalavan.

The DKV started voting for the BJP after the party clubbed a number of sub-castes under the umbrella DKV banner.

So, it would be difficult for Ranjith to consolidate the Dalit vote.

Lastly, the DMK is very good at co-opting Dalit leaders. If need be, Udhayanidhi could even play the role of a Dalit leader, as in the movie Mamannan, to shore up the party’s image among Dalits.

Also Read: Murder Of BSP Leader Armstrong In Chennai And The Reality Of Dalit Politics In Tamil Nadu