Parasakthi Triggers Telugu Audience: Why So Insensitive?

Tamil film Parasakthi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, Ravi Mohan, Atharvaa, and Sreeleela, has landed in a massive controversy. Directed by Sudha Kongara, the film has triggered strong backlash on social media, especially from Telugu audiences.

Parasakthi is set in the 1960s, during the peak of the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, when protests against compulsory Hindi education led to intense social unrest. During that period, Telugu people living in Tamil Nadu were often insulted with the derogatory term “golti.” Over the years, the word largely disappeared from public discourse.

The controversy erupted after reports emerged that the CBFC had suggested around 25 cuts during censorship. One of those reportedly involved muting the word “golti” because it was offensive to Telugu people. This revelation has angered many, who are questioning why a long-abandoned slur was used at all in a contemporary mainstream Tamil film.

The backlash has grown sharper because Sudha Kongara herself is Telugu. Many netizens are asking how she allowed the word in the script and why lead actors agreed to perform such a scene. The anger is also tied to a long-standing grievance that Telugu films often struggle for fair releases in Tamil Nadu, while Tamil films and stars enjoy solid acceptance in Telugu states.

As a result, calls to boycott Parasakthi are trending online, with many demanding a clear explanation before the Telugu release. A film that speaks about linguistic identity and pride cannot ignore the basic principle that real pride does not come from insulting others. Respecting one’s language should not mean normalizing slurs against another community.