Actor-director Raghava Lawrence has publicly defended Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over the appointment of Egmore MLA Rajmohan as Minister for Film Technology and the Cinematograph Act, after actor Vishal raised concerns about the decision.
The controversy began after Governor Rajendra Arlekar approved the allocation of portfolios to ministers who were sworn into office alongside Vijay on May 10. Rajmohan was assigned several important departments including school education, Tamil development, information and publicity, archaeology, Tamil culture, Film Technology and the Cinematograph Act.
Before entering politics, Rajmohan was known as a YouTuber, actor, motivational speaker and content creator, a background that led to criticism from some members of the Tamil film industry who questioned whether he possessed enough understanding of the sector’s deeper structural challenges.
Among the most vocal critics was Vishal, who openly questioned Rajmohan’s appointment and argued that the industry required someone with direct experience and understanding of the current issues affecting Tamil cinema.
However, Lawrence strongly came out in support of Vijay’s decision. Sharing his thoughts on X, Lawrence said Vijay would not have made the appointment without proper thought and consideration. He appealed to critics to avoid reacting impulsively and instead give the minister time to prove himself.
Lawrence wrote that he remained hopeful Rajmohan would work for the welfare of the film fraternity and acknowledged that concerns within the industry were understandable given the current crisis facing Tamil cinema.
The Tamil film industry has been dealing with multiple challenges in recent years, including escalating actor salaries, rising production costs, inconsistent box office performance and concerns over the sustainability of theatrical releases. These issues have triggered ongoing debates among producers, actors and distributors regarding reforms and policy support.
Lawrence further emphasised that Rajmohan deserved a fair opportunity to settle into the role before judgments were made about his capability as minister.
This is not the first time Lawrence has openly supported Vijay’s political journey. Ahead of Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister, Lawrence had congratulated him on social media and urged political leaders and the public to respect the democratic mandate delivered by the people.
Vijay’s rise to power marks a significant moment in Tamil Nadu politics, placing him alongside legendary actor-politicians such as M. G. Ramachandran, J. Jayalalithaa and N. T. Rama Rao.
His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, reshaped the state’s political landscape by defeating long-dominant parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
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