Dulquer Salmaan apologizes after Tamil Twitterati hurl abuses over a scene in Varane Avashymund

Dulquer Salmaan’s hit film ‘Varane Avashymund’ got released on Netlfix last week and has largely been getting positive response. However, to the surprise of many, a section of Tamil Twitter users have called for boycotting the film and Dulquer’s upcoming projects as well. Apparently, they got offended by a scene in which Suresh Gopi’s character calls his dog by the name Prabhakara. The enraged Tamilains accuse that it was a deliberate attempt to take a dig at late LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

However, the makers of ‘Varane Avashymund’ have clarified that they had no such intentions to hurt anyone. In fact, it was placed as a reference to an older Malayalam film ‘Pattana Pravesham’ and the expression ‘Prabhakara’ is also a very commonly used meme in Kerala. Even before the makers could come out with any sort of clarification, numerous trolls and abuses were hurled at them. Although it was not their intention to hurt anyone’s sentiments, Dulquer, who is also the film’s producer, tendered an apology on the crew’s behalf. But Dulquer also added that it was unacceptable to drag his father’s name and abuse him. His Facebook post reads,

A lot of people have brought to my notice that the Prabhakaran joke in Varane Avashyamund is insulting to the Tamizh people. It was not intentional. The joke is a reference to an older Malayalam film Pattana Pravesham and is a common Meme in Kerala. It is a common name in Kerala as well so it wasn’t directed at any person living or dead as our disclaimer mentions in the beginning of the film. Most people reacting are doing so without watching the film and are trying to spread hate. Hating on me and my director Anoop we can accept. Kindly keep it to us and not our fathers or senior actors from the film. I apologise to all of the good and kind tamizh people who felt offended. I have never intended to offend anyone through my films or my words. It’s genuinely a misunderstanding.

P.S. Some of you are being extremely abusive ,threatening, deliberately hurtful and insulting family along with us. I wish that weren’t so.