Jiiva’s return to the big screen with Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil has largely been met with smiles, laughs and positive word-of-mouth. But amid the appreciation for the film’s light-hearted tone, one particular
dialogue has sparked an unexpected controversy online, leaving the actor and makers responding to criticism.
Released in theatres on January 15, Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil is directed by Nithish Sahadev, who makes his Tamil debut after the Malayalam hit Falimy. The slice-of-life drama opened to encouraging reactions, with many viewers calling it a simple and relatable entertainer. The film also posted a strong opening at the box office, crossing the ₹1 crore mark on its first day, signalling a solid start for Jiiva’s comeback.
However, even as praise poured in, a section of social media users objected to the use of the dialogue “Conditions Follow Pannungada,” which appears in the film in a casual, humorous context. The criticism was not aimed at the line itself, but at its association with a recent real-life tragedy.
The phrase gained widespread attention following a tragic incident in Karur that claimed 40 lives. The incident took place during a rally organised by actor-turned-politician Vijay, the founder and president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The rally was held in Velusamypuram on the Karur–Erode highway, where a large crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of Vijay’s convoy. As the situation escalated, it led to devastating consequences.
In the aftermath, visuals from hospitals in Karur showed grieving families. During this time, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for School Education, Anbil Mahesh, was seen addressing the public and was overheard saying, “Padichu padichu sonna conditions follow pannunga da,” while urging people to follow safety instructions. Since then, the line became closely linked to the tragedy, despite also trending widely online.
Because of this association, several viewers felt that using the phrase in a comic setting in Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil was insensitive. Social media users accused the filmmakers of making light of a line that had come to symbolise loss and grief for many, even though it had gained meme status on the internet.
Responding to the backlash, Jiiva addressed the issue during the film’s success meet and offered an apology. Explaining the intent behind using the dialogue, the actor said, “It was a trending term, so we used it. We thought it would be good, and we did get a good response. But we didn’t want to hurt anyone.”
Apart from Jiiva, Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil features Thambi Ramaiah, Ilavarasu, Prathana Nathan and Anuraj OB in key roles. On the technical side, the film brings back several members of the Falimy team, with Bablu Aju handling cinematography, Vishnu Vijay composing the music and Arjune Babu overseeing editing. The film is produced by Kannan and co-produced by Deepak Ravi, with the screenplay written by Nithish Sahadev along with Sanjo Joseph and Anuraj OB.
