Thoothukudi custodial death makes director Hari regret making cop films ‘Singam’ and ‘Saamy’

Web Desk

Joining the growing list of film industry names to have spoken out against the custodial torture and death of Jayaraj and Bennicks in Tuticorin(Thoothukudi) district, filmmaker Hari, who directed several hit cop-centric films, released a statement expressing anguish and hurt at the turn of events.

The man who created the highly successful Singam film franchise, and the Vikram-starrer Saamy and its sequel, said in a statement that he wished for such an incident would not repeat.

“An incident like what happened in Sathankulam should not happen ever again to Tamils. The only way to ensure that is to give maximum punishment to those guilty of the crime,” the filmmaker said in a handwritten note that was released via social media platforms.

“Such actions by a few cops have brought disrepute to the entire police department. Today, I feel deeply hurt that I made five films glorifying the police department,” Hari wrote, expressing his regret.

Actor Suriya, who is the face of the Singam franchise in Tamil also released a statement of condemnation in which he labelled the incident “organised crime”. He pointed out that the doctor who gave a clean bill of health, the district magistrate who “mechanically” remanded the duo to custody and prison officials who did not report the incident were all equally culpable.