Seeman (politician)

Senthamizhan Seeman (born 8 November 1966)[2][3][4][5] is an Indian politician, filmmaker, Tamil Nationalist ideologue and the chief-coordinator of the political party Naam Tamilar Katchi in Tamil Nadu. He is an advocate of the creation of vote bank for Tamils.[6]

Seeman
Chief-coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi
Personal details
Born (1966-11-08) 8 November 1966
Aranaiyur, Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu, India
Political partyNaam Tamilar Katchi
Spouse(s)Kayalvizhi (m.2013)[1]
ResidenceChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
OccupationFilm director, actor, Tamil nationalist, politician
Websitewww.naamtamilar.org

Seeman began his career as a filmmaker in the mid-1990s, working on films such as Panchalankurichi (1996) and Veeranadai (2000). The failure of his early films made it difficult for him to attract offers as a director and several of his proposed projects were stalled in the late 1990s. He later made a comeback through the successful vigilante film Thambi (2006), though the commercial failure of his next film, prompted Seeman to prioritise commitments as a supporting actor in the late 2000s.

In the early 2010s, Seeman started a Tamil nationalist political party, and has since often been in the news for his controversial statements on Indian social issues.[2][3][4]

Film career
See also: Seeman filmography

Seeman took up film direction as a career after being inspired by the films of Bharathiraja and Manivannan. Seeman started his career by directing Panchalankurichi (1996), a village action film starring Prabhu and Madhubala.[7] He collaborated with Prabhu again in Iniyavale (1998), a romantic film which also featured actresses Suvalakshmi, Gouthami and Keerthi Reddy. Seeman's third film was Veeranadai (2000) with Sathyaraj and Khushbu, which garnered mixed review from critics and underperformed commercially.[8][9] The failure of his initial films made it difficult for Seeman to attract producers to work on his next films. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, he worked on four other projects, Vaigai Karai Oram with Vijayakanth, Anandham with Karthik, Karma Veerar with Sarathkumar, and Sethupathi Cheemaiyile with Rajkiran, but all failed to develop beyond production.[10][11]

Seeman then made the village-based vigilante film, Thambi (2006), starring Madhavan in the titular role.[12][13] The film's production was briefly halted following a disagreement between the actor and director, after Seeman raised an objection to Madhavan returning to be with his family for the birth of his son.[14] The film opened to mixed reviews but performed well commercially.[15][16] His most recent directorial release, Vaazhthugal (2008), received negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. A reviewer from Sify noted the "execution is tacky and the final outcome is a dreary and boring message film that leaves you exhausted."[17]

The failure of Vaazhthugal made it difficult for Seeman to find producers and actors to work on his other proposed projects, despite his interest in continuing work as a film director.[18] In the late 2000s, Seeman attempted to make a film titled Pagalavan with either Ajith Kumar or Madhavan in the lead roles, but was unsuccessful.[19] Seeman then hoped to make the film with Vikram for director Bala's production studio, but the venture did not materialise.[20] In mid-2010, producer Kalaipuli S. Dhanu agreed to finance the project, and Seeman held talks with Vijay to be a part of the film.[21][22] The actor later refused to work on the project, which prompted Seeman to speak out against Vijay.[23] In 2013, Seeman approached Jiiva, Jayam Ravi, Arya and Vishal to work on the project, but none of the actors agreed to be a part of the film.[23][24][25] In 2017, Seeman was in talks with Vijay Antony to feature in the lead role, and then with Silambarasan in 2018, but both actors later opted to prioritise other projects.[26][27] In 2017, Seeman announced another project titled Kobam with G. V. Prakash Kumar in the lead role. However, despite an announcement, the film failed to find producers and was stalled.[28][29]

Since the mid-2000s, Seeman has mostly worked as an actor. His notable roles including supporting characters in Pallikoodam (2007) and Evano Oruvan (2007).

Politics and activism

Seeman has received threat letters for supporting Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[30]

He was detained twice under the National Security Act first for speaking in favour of the LTTE and again for making inflammatory speeches at a meeting protesting against the killing of a Tamil fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy.[31][32]

Seeman along with several other activists gathered on 18 May 2009, coinciding the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War at Madurai to form the Naam Tamilar Iyakkam, as a social outfit.[33] It subsequently turned into a political party named Naam Tamilar Katchi.[34]

2011 anti-Congress campaigning

Upon his release from a five-month detention at the Vellore prison, Seeman actively campaigned for the defeat of the Congress party in the State Assembly elections for their role in the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.[35][36]

He was neutral on MDMK and DMK while extended support to AIADMK.[37][38] Seeman campaigned in 59 of the 63 places the Congress party were contesting, and the party were defeated in all of those constituencies except for one.[38][39][40]

Political activism (2011–2019)

Since the 2011 Assembly elections, Seeman and his party have been actively involved in various causes such as the anti-nuclear Power plant protests in Kudankulam[41][42] or the attacks on Tamil fishermen perpetuated by the Sri Lankan Navy[43] that has claimed the lives of over 800[44] fishermen.

During the parliamentary elections in 2014, Seeman has stated that the Naam Tamilar Katchi would campaign for the defeat of the candidates fielded by the Congress, BJP and the DMDK where they are contesting and will support ADMK.[37]

In February 2015, the party conceived Veera Thamizhar Munnani, aimed at reviving and recovering age-old Tamil culture and traditions.[45]

In September 2016, Seeman was among some 176 people arrested after "attempting to lay siege to Srivaikuntam dam, where desilting works [were] under way as per a directive from the National Green Tribunal".[46]

2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections

Naam Tamilar Katchi contested in the 2016 assembly election.[47] The party contested in all the 234 assembly constituencies on its own, in the elections Tamil Nadu and as well as those in Puducherry.[48] The election symbol allocated for the party was twin candles. Seeman introduced his candidates in Cuddalore in February 2016. He lost the deposit and got the lowest vote among all the other candidates. He declared that he will contest as the Chief Ministerial candidate from the Cuddalore constituency.[47]

NTK, in the 2016 TN General Assembly election, failed to win a single seat.[49]

2019 Indian general elections

Naam Tamilar Katchi contested in all the 39 constituencies present in Tamil Nadu.[50] NTK lost deposits in all constituencies.[51] NTK faired well in rural areas when compared to urban areas.[52]

Controversies

In November 2009, while on a speaking tour in Canada, Seeman was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency for giving a hate-filled incendiary speech at an event in Toronto. In the speech, he reportedly talked about restarting the civil war in Sri Lanka, and allegedly said "no Sinhala can live," going on to state that the LTTE should have bombed 100 Sinhala schools for every Tamil school which was attacked.[53]

While campaigning for Vikravandi assembly by-election, he declared that his party proudly declared the killing of an enemy (Rajiv Gandhi) for he had sent Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Eelam that killed numerous Tamil people. This speech raised criticism from people of various political spectrum. Following this event many charges were booked against him by the police.[54][55][56]

The most controversial aspect of Seeman and his political party is that of ethnic purism arbitrarily based on caste lines. He claims the 'decline of Tamil people' is due to continuous rule of Tamilnadu by 'Vandheris' (refers to outsiders or non Tamils especially Telugus based on caste and history of immigration) and only hope for Tamils is to elect "Real Tamilian" to power.[57]

Personal life

Seeman was born in Aranaiyur, Tamil Nadu to Senthamizhan and Annammal.[58][1] Seeman has a brother named James Peter.[59][60] Seeman is married to Kayalvizhi, daughter of K. Kalimuthu, the former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the AIADMK party.[61] The ceremony was held according to Tamil traditions at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam, Chennai during September 2013.[62]

Seeman had earlier been in a relationship with actress Vijayalakshmi, who he had met on the sets of his film Vaazhthugal during 2007. In 2011, she filed a police complaint against him for cheating her.[63] The pair continued to engage in a public war of words throughout the 2010s, with Vijayalakshmi later attempting suicide in July 2020, blaming Seeman and his supporters for torture.[64][65] In 2011, Seeman publicly expressed his interest in marrying a Sri Lankan Tamil woman and chose Yarlmathy, a widow of a LTTE fighter, but later did not do so.[66]

References
  1. "Seeman Profile". OneIndia. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. Nath, Akshaya (16 October 2019). "Vellore: Congress burns effigy of leader who justified Rajiv Gandhi's killing in election speech". India Today. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  3. Yamunan, Sruthisagar. "Why many believe Rajinikanth has become the BJP's loudspeaker in Tamil Nadu". Scroll.in. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  4. "How the Hindu Munnani Seized Vinayaga Chaturthi to Spew Venom". The Wire. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  5. தலைமையகம் (10 September 2016). "மாரியப்பன் தங்கவேலு தமிழினத்திற்கே பெருமை சேர்த்திருக்கிறார் – செந்தமிழன் சீமான் வாழ்த்து" (in Tamil). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  6. "Seeman calls for vote bank to protect Tamils". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  7. Panchalanguruchi (1996). cinesouth.com
  8. "Film Review: Veera Nadai". 28 April 2000 – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2000/vnadai.html
  10. "dinakaran". 12 March 2005. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005.
  11. "dinakaran". 1 March 2005. Archived from the original on 1 March 2005.
  12. "Behindwoods : "Maddy" Madhavan". www.behindwoods.com.
  13. "An actor who researches on the Net". www.rediff.com.
  14. "Behindwoods : Madhavan makes amends with the producer's guild". www.behindwoods.com.
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  16. "Thambi". Sify.
  17. "Movie Review : Vazhthukkal". Sify. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  18. "Madhavan is like a family member: Seeman - Times of India". The Times of India.
  19. "It is not Ajith, it is Madhavan - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie News - Seeman Pagalavan Thambi Vazhthukkal Ajith". www.behindwoods.com.
  20. "Vijay - Tamil Movie News - Vijay snatches it from Vikram - Vijay | Pahalavan | Vikram | Seeman - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  21. "Vijay Extracts A Promise From Seeman - Vijay - Seeman - Pagalavan - - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  22. "What Is The Status Of Pagalavan? - Vijay - Seeman - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  23. "Vijay Will Definitely Regret, Says Seeman - Vijay - Seeman - Pagalavan - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  24. "Jayam Ravi takes Vijay's role!, jayam ravi, seeman". www.behindwoods.com.
  25. "Vijay Declines, Vikram Too Follows - Vijay - Vikram - Jiiva - Seeman - Pagalavan - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  26. "Politician Seeman to direct a film with G.V.Prakash as the hero". Behindwoods. 6 April 2017.
  27. "Simbu is the real Superstar! - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 7 January 2019.
  28. K, Janani (3 June 2017). "GV Prakash and Seeman unite". Deccan Chronicle.
  29. "GV Prakash, Seeman join hands for Kobam". The New Indian Express.
  30. "Seeman receives threat letter". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  31. "Seeman's remand extended". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  32. "National Security Act slapped on Seeman". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  33. "ஆய்வுகள்" (in Tamil). Tamilkathir. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  34. Gopal Ethiraj from Chennai (15 April 2010). "Seeman to convert his 'Naam Tamilar' into political party". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  35. "Naam Tamilar Katchi to work for defeat of Cong in TN, IBN Live News". CNN-IBN. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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  37. "NTK Neutral on Vaiko, to Back Jaya". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  38. Sundar, Sidharth Goutham. "Seeman effect on Congress Party". TruthDive. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  40. "Charges a Bid to Ruin Seeman's Image". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  41. "Kudankulam". Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  42. Madurai bureau (16 September 2012). "Fishermen fast goes on for fifth day". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  43. "Sathiyam News Agency – CPI would be made political orphans in TN". Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  44. "DMK, AIADMK target govt on Indian fishermen's arrest in Sri Lanka". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  45. "Seeman floats youth wing". The Hindu. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  46. "Nallakannu, Seeman arrested near Srivaikuntam reservoir". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  47. "Seeman Sets Campaign Ball Rolling in Cuddalore, Meets Voters". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  48. "One, Two, Three, Four And More CM Aspirants in TN". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  49. "General Election to Legislative Assembly Trends & Results 2016". Election Commission of India.
  50. "Lok Sabha elections 2019: Here are the candidates fighting under Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi in Tamil Nadu". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  51. Jesudasan, Dennis S. (25 May 2019). "Candidates of AMMK, MNM, NTK lose deposit in all LS constituencies". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  52. Naig, Udhav (24 May 2019). "MNM fares well in urban pockets, NTK in rural areas". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  53. B. MURALIDHAR REDDY (27 November 2009). "Director Seeman arrested and deported from Canada". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  54. Tamilarasu, Prabhakar (14 October 2019). "Seeman stirs up a hornet's nest by glorifying Rajiv Gandhi killers". The Federal. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  55. "NTK leader Seeman 'justifies' Rajiv Gandhi's killing, booked by police as Congress seeks action". The Indian Express. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  56. Correspondent, Special (15 October 2019). "Seeman booked for hailing Rajiv Gandhi's assassination". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  57. Yamunan, Sruthisagar. "In Tamil Nadu, an ultra nationalist politician who often invokes Adolf Hitler is gaining support". Scroll.in. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  58. தலைமையகம் (18 May 2010). "செந்தமிழன் சீமான் – தலைமை ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர்" (in Tamil). Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  59. "Brother moves HC over NSA detention of Seeman". The Times of India. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  60. "Case registered against Seeman". The Hindu. 7 February 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  61. Sundar, S. (18 March 2004). "Caste takes centre stage". The Hindu.
  62. "Seeman ties the knot". OneIndia Tamil. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  63. "Case against Seeman". 4 June 2011 – via www.thehindu.com.
  64. "There is no limit to Seeman's atrocities: Vijayalakshmi - Times of India". The Times of India.
  65. "Tamil actress complains about director Seeman to police | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  66. "Will find my Lankan Tamil dream girl". The New Indian Express. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

See also
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