Youngsters interested in knowing history via movies, says Seeman

CHENNAI: Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman, who announced to make a movie portraying the history of Cholas, by joining hands with ace director Vetrimaran, in an exclusive interview with DT Next, revealed his grand plans to film the history of Cholas and in particular the history of Raja Raja Cholan. He has also announced his intentions to film the history of slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. In the interview, he also spoke about how the word ‘Hinduism’ evolved and what was the religion that prevailed in Tamil Nadu back then.

What inspired you to take a movie on the history of Cholas? Is it PS-I?

Cholas have a long history and I do not want to restrict them in just two parts like Ponniyin Selvan. When we relook at the Cholas, their history is filled with wars not just in Tamil Nadu or the land adjacent to it but also in the foreign lands. Cholas had the largest naval force during their times and among the Cholas, Rajendra Cholan was the most valorous king. To include all the essential components of Chola history I have planned to film them into four parts.

No doubt Vetrimaran is a renowned director in Tamil cinema, but he has no track record in taking historical movies. How did you select him?

Vetrimaran is interested in filming the history of Cholas and has his plans ready. As a director, Vetrimaran is more careful and dedicated in his movies. Moreover, today’s youngsters are interested in knowing the history not through books, but through movies and Vetrimaran will be the right director for the younger audience.

What do you think about the recent comment of Vetrimaran that there are attempts to make Raja Raja Chola a Hindu king? Was there Hinduism during the Chola era?

My Thambi (younger brother) Vetrimaran has echoed our stand, which we have been telling for long. Our ancestor Raja Raja Cholan was a Shaivite and there was no Hinduism during the Chola era. Britishers who could not distinguish people of different faiths termed us Hindus by bringing various modes of worship into one. Once, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, who gave Tamil Thai Vazhthu won an argument against Swami Vivekananda in Tiruvananthapuram when there was an issue about who was a Hindu and proved that we are Shaivites. The way of worshipping Lord Shiva was called Sivaniyam and that of Thirumal was called Maliyam, back then.

How about the historical movie on Prabhakaran? What is your plan?

Prabhakaran is the greatest revolutionary that the whole world has witnessed in this century and the history of such a great personality cannot be restricted in a single movie and so we have decided to take it as a series when there is a conducive political atmosphere. We have also planned to document the history of Tamil freedom fighters such as Pulithevan, Velunachiyar and so on.

Finally, did you see the Ponniyin Selvan-I movie? Did you like it?

No, I do not have the habit of watching movies in theatres because whenever I go people surround me and do not let me watch movies. I have planned to watch the movie on OTT platforms, but my wife and my son have watched the movie and they liked it.