Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan fast for Tamils in Lanka

The South Indian Film Artistes' association -- also known as the Thenindiya Nadigar Sangam -- on Tuesday organised a one-day hunger strike to protest against the alleged atrocities committed against the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

The members of the Film Chamber of Commerce, the Producers' Council, the Directors' Council and the Film Theatres Owners' Association etc participated in the token fast that was held at the Nadigar Sangam premises in T Nagar, Chennai.

Cancelling their shooting schedules for the day, almost the entire film industry came together to express its solidarity and support for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

Reportage: S Saraswathi in Chennai

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Among those present were superstar Rajinikanth, Ajith, Sarath Kumar, Radha Ravi, Prabhu, Prakash Raj, Arjun, Karthi Sivakumar, Surya, Manobala, Satjyaraj, Dhanush, Jiva, Arya, Vishal, Kovai Sarala, Namitha and Anandraj. 

Actor Vijay, who was not present at the event, was represented by his father S A Chandrasekhar. 

Actor Sarath Kumar demanded that India stop treating Sri Lanka as a friendly neighbour and instead slap economic sanctions on the island nation till Colombo agrees to take firm steps to end the "suppression" of the Tamil community there. 

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Kollywood, as the Tamil film industry is popularly known, also expressed its support for the Tamil Nadu government's decision to propose a referendum for a Tamil Eelam. 

It also sought an international probe to punish those responsible for the alleged genocide and killings during the end of the decades-long bloody civil war in Lanka.

"We are all here together, fasting for the honour and dignity of Tamils in Sri Lanka," said actor Vishal.

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Expressing his grief over the alleged persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka, actor Sivakarthikeyan said, "It is really very sad to see what has happened in Sri Lanka. We believe that at least from now, such killings should be stopped."

"The movement was first kick-started by college students in Tamil Nadu who were fighting for a the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. We wanted to show our support for the cause," said actor Anandraj.

Talking about the alleged killing of children during the conflict, actor Pandiraj said, "Children and God are considered as one. How can they mercilessly kill so many young children? It is inhuman."

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Actor Kamal Hasan, who was missing when the fast started, joined his colleagues from the industry at around 4.15 pm.

Two students from Chennai's Loyola College, who were the first protestors to raise their voices in support of Tamils in Sri Lanka, helped the film industry end its fast by giving a glass of juice to film icon Rajinikanth.

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