Tamil News

Rajinikanth Donates Essentials To Tamil Nadu Film Director’s Association And Nadigar Sangam

By Aparajitha Balu
'I don't want to be CM': Photos From The Rajinikanth Press Meet
'I don't want to be CM': Photos From The Rajinikanth Press Meet

Actor-politician Superstar Rajinikanth was among the first people from the film fraternity to contribute to Corona relief funds. While he had donated a sum of 50 lakhs to the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI) for the benefit of members and daily wage workers of the cine industry, his Rajini Makkal Mandram has been helping the affected ones on a daily basis by providing them food and groceries.

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The Darbar star has now donated essentials to the Tamilnadu Film Director’s Association and the South Indian Artistes’ Association/Nadigar Sangam. The items donated will be distributed to the struggling members of both associations owing to the national lockdown.

On Thursday evening, the Director’s Association led by RK Selvamani, also the president of FEFSI, put out a statement expressing their gratitude towards the actor for the contribution. They mentioned that they were thankful for his voluntary contribution despite not putting out a statement seeking funds.

The Nadigar Sangam, on the other hand, has also thanked the star for his contribution of essentials for 1000 members. These items will be distributed to verified members of the association at Senthil Studio, Saligramam, Chennai in the next three days – 25, 26 and 27 April between 6 am and 8 am. The members will have to bring their association ID cards and collect the relief material within these three days.

The actor who was working on his 168th film, Annaatthe, with director Siva prior to the lockdown has been spreading awareness about the global virus on his social media. Earlier, when the Janata Curfew was imposed, he had put out a video mentioning that the virus would be curbed if people stayed in for about 12-14 hours. This gave way to a lot of criticism and Twitter ended up removing the video from the platform.

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Read: Twitter Removes Rajinikanth’s Coronavirus Video For Violation Of Rules

The actor who recently announced that he wouldn’t be contesting for the post of Chief Minister has been constantly supporting the central government and its activities. He had also recently thanked his Rajini Makkal Mandram members for their efforts to help people during the lockdown.

Apart from the superstar, actors Vishal and Yogi Babu had also recently provided the association with essentials. While the former provided provisions, gloves, and masks, the latter provided rice bags to the association. Vishal has also helped trans women and sanitation workers.

Producer Ishari K Ganesh, actors Karthi, Soori, Nasser, Raghava Lawrence, Ponvannan, SJ Suryah, Rohini, Sangeetha, director Santhana Bharathi, and several others have also made monetary contributions.

The Tamil Nadu government has also decided to provide members of the association with Rs. 1000 each after the appeal made by the Cinema Welfare Organisation. Since it’s the season for performing arts, drama and theatre artists are to be affected the most and have therefore received money and essentials.

Karunas MLA, former Vice President of the Nadigar Sangam, has given all the theatre artists from Madurai 2000kg rice, Rs. 250 worth of grocery items per person, and Rs. 500 per person. Meanwhile, Dindigul artists have received 250kg rice, Pudhukottai artists 1250kg rice, and Thanjavur artists 500kg rice.

Vishal, Nasser, Rajkiran at Nadigar Sangam's Diwali Gift Distribution Event for the Members

Karunas at Nadigar Sangam’s Diwali Gift Distribution Event for the Members

The association has also appealed once again to the film fraternity to contribute more to the fund given the number of artists they are required to support.

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Aparajitha Balu is a Alum at Silverscreen India, and can be reached by email at aparajitha@silverscreen.in