Seeman
Chief-coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi
Assumed office
18 May 2010
Preceded byPosition established
Personal details
Born
Senthamizhan Seeman

(1966-11-08) 8 November 1966
Aranaiyur, Sivagangai District, (Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency & Manamadurai Assembly constituency), Tamil Nadu, India[1][2]
Political partyNaam Tamilar Katchi (2010–Present)
Other political
affiliations		Naam Tamilar Iyakkam (2009–2010)
Dravidar Kazhagam (2006–2009)
Spouse
Kayalvizhi
​
(m. 2013)​
[1]
Children1
Residence(s)Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation
  • Film director
  • Actor
  • Politician
Websitewww.naamtamilar.org

Senthamizhan Seeman[3][4][5][6] (born 8 November 1966) is an Indian politician, filmmaker 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.[7]

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.[3][4][5]

Early life

Seeman was born in Aranaiyur, Tamil Nadu to Senthamizhan, member of Congress and Annammal in Aranaiyur, Tamil Nadu.[8][2] He studied in Government Primary School in Aranayur up to class 5th. He attended K.K. Ibrahim Ali High School from Class 6th to Class 10th and finished his class 11 and 12 in Ilayankudi. He completed his degree undergraduate economics at Zakir Hussain College in Ilayankudi.[8][2][1] Seeman has a brother named James Peter.[9][10] During his high school and college years, Seeman was enthralled with the ideals of the Dravidian movement. He moved to Chennai to pursue his dream of working in the film industry.[8]

Film career

Seeman took up film direction as a career after being inspired by the films of Bharathiraja and Manivannan. He worked as an assistant director with Bharathiraja and Manivannan.[8] Seeman started his career by directing Panchalankurichi (1996), a village action film starring Prabhu and Madhubala.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14]

Seeman then made the village-based vigilante film, Thambi (2006), starring Madhavan in the titular role.[15][16] 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.[17] The film opened to mixed reviews but performed well commercially.[18][19] 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."[20]

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.[21] In the late 2000s, Seeman attempted to make a film titled Pagalavan with either Ajith Kumar or Madhavan starring, but was unsuccessful.[22] Seeman then hoped to make the film with Vikram for director Bala's production studio, but the venture did not materialise.[23] 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.[24][25] The actor later refused to work on the project, which prompted Seeman to speak out against Vijay.[26] 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.[26][27][28] 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.[29][30] 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.[31][32]

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 (LTTE).[33]

Early political life and Naam Tamilar Katchi

Seeman addressed Periyar's ideology and caste abolition in the film industry. In the 2006 assembly elections, he campaigned for the DMK alliance, and notably sided with Pattali Makkal Katchi's S. Ramadoss and delivered speeches against the candidature of Vijayakanth.[34] He met with Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2008 when the war between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE was looming. Following this, Seeman started to speak out against the killings of a large number of Tamils during Sri Lanka's civil war. Seeman's ensuing speech in Rameswaram marked a turning point in his political career for which he was arrested. He was also detained for continuing to speak out in Erode in favour of the LTTE. He was subjected to the National Security Act, passport block and state monitoring.[8]

Seeman was arrested in March 2009 under the National Security act for speaking in favour of the LTTE and was lodged at the Kalapet prison.[35]

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.[36] It subsequently turned into a political party named Naam Tamilar Katchi.[37]

Seeman was arrested at Chepauk under the National Security Act for making inflammatory speeches at a meeting protesting against the killing of a Tamil fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy.[38] He was detained at the Vellore Central Prison for five months.[39]

Political activism (2011–2019)

Upon his release from a five-month detention at the Vellore prison, Seeman in 2011 actively campaigned for the defeat of the Congress party in the State Assembly elections.[40][41][8] He was neutral on MDMK and DMK while extended support to AIADMK.[42][43] Seeman campaigned in 59 of the 63 places the Congress party were contesting, and the party was defeated in all of those constituencies except for one.[43][44][45]

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[46][47] or the attacks on Tamil fishermen perpetuated by the Sri Lankan Navy[48] that has claimed the lives of over 800[49] 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.[42]

In February 2015, the party conceived Veera Thamizhar Munnani, aimed at reviving and recovering age-old Tamil culture and traditions.[50] 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".[51]

2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections

Naam Tamilar Katchi contested in the 2016 assembly election, with Seeman as the Chief Ministerial candidate from the Cuddalore constituency.[52][53] The party contested in all the 234 assembly constituencies on its own, in the elections Tamil Nadu and as well as those in Puducherry.[52] Seeman contested in the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Cuddalore constituency and polled 12,497 votes and lost by a low margin, finishing fifth and forfeited his deposits in the process.[54]

NTK, in the 2016 TN General Assembly election, failed to win a single seat.[55]

2019 Indian general elections

Naam Tamilar Katchi contested in all the 39 constituencies present in Tamil Nadu,[56] but got only 4% of the vote share, thus losing deposits in all constituencies.[57] NTK fared well in rural areas when compared to urban areas.[58]

Electoral performance

2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Thiruvottiyur[59]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DMK K. P. Shankar 88,185 44.34% +1.09
AIADMK K. Kuppan 50,524 25.40% -15.29
NTK Seeman 48,597 24.43% +22.35
MNM D. Mohan 7,053 3.55% New
AMMK M. Soundara Pandian 1,417 0.71% New
NOTA NOTA 1,111 0.56% -0.98
Margin of victory 37,661 18.94% 16.38%
Turnout 198,885 64.99% -1.93%
Rejected ballots 81 0.04%
Registered electors 306,004
DMK hold Swing 1.09%
2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election : Cuddalore[60]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
AIADMK M. C. Sampath 70,922 41.07% -19.49
DMK Ela. Pugazhendi 46,509 26.93% -9.9
TMC(M) A. S. Chandarasekaran 20,608 11.93% New
PMK Pazha. Thamaraikannan 16,905 9.79% New
NTK Seeman 12,497 7.24% New
NOTA NOTA 2,062 1.19% New
BJP P. Selvam 1,964 1.14% +0.02
Margin of victory 24,413 14.14% -9.59%
Turnout 172,688 74.69% -3.33%
Registered electors 231,205
AIADMK hold Swing -19.49%

Personal life

Seeman is married to Kayalvizhi, daughter of K. Kalimuthu, the former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the AIADMK party. The ceremony was held according to Tamil traditions at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam, Chennai during September 2013.[61]

Actress Vijayalakshmi claimed that she was in a relationship with Seeman who she had met on the sets of Seeman's film Vaazhthugal during 2007.[62] 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]

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.[67]

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.[68][69][70]

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 Tamil Nadu 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.[71] Although Seeman openly claims to be a supporter of Tamil Eelam and LTTE, the sincerity behind his proclaimed stance has been questioned multiple times. For example, an audio leak in 2019 confirmed the fact that Seeman opposed a pro-LTTE movie named Methagu despite the movie's well reception among Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils alike. In another leaked audio, he was caught using profanity against slain LTTE fighter Pottu Amman[72] In 2013, Seeman invited Kashmiri separatist leader Yaseen Malik for one of his public meetings and drew criticism [73]

In Feb 2023, during the Erode East Assembly constituency by-election campaign, when talking about the Vijaynagar kings capturing Tamil Nadu, he had mentioned "they brought members of the Arunthathiyar community to this region to do scavenging".[74] He received backlash and his comments also sparked protests by Arunthathiyar outfits. The Election Commission also issued a notice to NTK seeking an explanation. Seeman was also booked by the Karungalpalayam police, registering a case under three sections.[75]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Seeman Profile". OneIndia. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 தலைமையகம் (18 May 2010). "செந்தமிழன் சீமான் – தலைமை ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர்" (in Tamil). Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 Nath, Akshaya (16 October 2019). "Vellore: Congress burns effigy of leader who justified Rajiv Gandhi's killing in election speech". India Today. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 Yamunan, Sruthisagar (11 February 2020). "Why many believe Rajinikanth has become the BJP's loudspeaker in Tamil Nadu". Scroll.in. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. 1 2 "How the Hindu Munnani Seized Vinayaga Chaturthi to Spew Venom". The Wire. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  6. ↑ தலைமையகம் (10 September 2016). "மாரியப்பன் தங்கவேலு தமிழினத்திற்கே பெருமை சேர்த்திருக்கிறார் – செந்தமிழன் சீமான் வாழ்த்து" (in Tamil). Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Seeman calls for vote bank to protect Tamils". The New Indian Express. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vijayanad, A (23 March 2021). "சீமான் வளர்ந்தது எப்படி? திராவிட இயக்கப் பாசம் முதல் தமிழ் தேசியம் வரை". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil). Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Brother moves HC over NSA detention of Seeman". The Times of India. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Case registered against Seeman". The Hindu. 7 February 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  11. ↑ Panchalanguruchi (1996). cinesouth.com
  12. ↑ "Film Review: Veera Nadai". The Hindu. 28 April 2000 – via www.thehindu.com.
  13. ↑ "dinakaran". 12 March 2005. Archived from the original on 12 March 2005.
  14. ↑ "dinakaran". 1 March 2005. Archived from the original on 1 March 2005.
  15. ↑ "Behindwoods : "Maddy" Madhavan". www.behindwoods.com.
  16. ↑ "An actor who researches on the Net". www.rediff.com.
  17. ↑ "Behindwoods : Madhavan makes amends with the producer's guild". www.behindwoods.com.
  18. ↑ "Madhavan returns as Thambi". The Hindu. 25 February 2006 – via www.thehindu.com.
  19. ↑ "Thambi". Sify. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
  20. ↑ "Movie Review : Vazhthukkal". Sify. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Madhavan is like a family member: Seeman". The Times of India.
  22. ↑ "It is not Ajith, it is Madhavan - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie News - Seeman Pagalavan Thambi Vazhthukkal Ajith". www.behindwoods.com.
  23. ↑ "Vijay - Tamil Movie News - Vijay snatches it from Vikram - Vijay | Pahalavan | Vikram | Seeman - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  24. ↑ "Vijay Extracts A Promise From Seeman - Vijay - Seeman - Pagalavan - - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  25. ↑ "What Is The Status Of Pagalavan? - Vijay - Seeman - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  26. 1 2 "Vijay Will Definitely Regret, Says Seeman - Vijay - Seeman - Pagalavan - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  27. ↑ "Jayam Ravi takes Vijay's role!, jayam ravi, seeman". www.behindwoods.com.
  28. ↑ "Vijay Declines, Vikram Too Follows - Vijay - Vikram - Jiiva - Seeman - Pagalavan - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  29. ↑ "Politician Seeman to direct a film with G.V.Prakash as the hero". Behindwoods. 6 April 2017.
  30. ↑ "Simbu is the real Superstar! - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 7 January 2019.
  31. ↑ K, Janani (3 June 2017). "GV Prakash and Seeman unite". Deccan Chronicle.
  32. ↑ "GV Prakash, Seeman join hands for Kobam". The New Indian Express.
  33. ↑ "Seeman receives threat letter". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  34. ↑ "Tamil movies : Vijayakanth: Will fortune favour the bold?". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Seeman's remand extended". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  36. ↑ "ஆய்வுகள்" (in Tamil). Tamilkathir. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  37. ↑ Gopal Ethiraj from Chennai (15 April 2010). "Seeman to convert his 'Naam Tamilar' into political party". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  38. ↑ "National Security Act slapped on Seeman". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  39. ↑ "Out of jail, Seeman vows to defeat DMK in polls". The New Indian Express. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  40. ↑ "Naam Tamilar Katchi to work for defeat of Cong in TN, IBN Live News". CNN-IBN. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  41. ↑ "Seeman changes tune, targets Congress". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  42. 1 2 "NTK Neutral on Vaiko, to Back Jaya". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  43. 1 2 Sundar, Sidharth Goutham. "Seeman effect on Congress Party". TruthDive. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  44. ↑ "Seeman tears into Congress". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  45. ↑ "Charges a Bid to Ruin Seeman's Image". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  46. ↑ "Kudankulam". Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  47. ↑ Madurai bureau (16 September 2012). "Fishermen fast goes on for fifth day". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "Sathiyam News Agency – CPI would be made political orphans in TN". Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  49. ↑ "DMK, AIADMK target govt on Indian fishermen's arrest in Sri Lanka". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  50. ↑ "Seeman floats youth wing". The Hindu. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Nallakannu, Seeman arrested near Srivaikuntam reservoir". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  52. 1 2 Muruganandham, T (27 March 2016). "One, Two, Three, Four And More CM Aspirants in TN". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  53. ↑ "Seeman Sets Campaign Ball Rolling in Cuddalore, Meets Voters". The New Indian Express. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  54. ↑ "The star losers of Tamil Nadu: Party leaders who could not win their own seat". The News Minute. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  55. ↑ "General Election to Legislative Assembly Trends & Results 2016". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016.
  56. ↑ "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.
  57. ↑ Jesudasan, Dennis S. (25 May 2019). "Candidates of AMMK, MNM, NTK lose deposit in all LS constituencies". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  58. ↑ Naig, Udhav (24 May 2019). "MNM fares well in urban pockets, NTK in rural areas". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  59. ↑ "Thiruvottiyur Election Result". Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  60. ↑ "Assembly wise Candidate Valid Votes count 2016, Tamil Nadu" (PDF). www.elections.tn.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  61. ↑ "Seeman ties the knot". OneIndia Tamil. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  62. ↑ எஸ்.மகேஷ்,மலையரசு (11 March 2020). "'இனிமேலும் பொறுத்துக்கொள்ள முடியாது!' - சீமான் விவகாரத்தில் கொதிக்கும் நடிகை விஜயலட்சுமி". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  63. ↑ "Case against Seeman". The Hindu. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  64. ↑ "There is no limit to Seeman's atrocities: Vijayalakshmi". The Times of India.
  65. ↑ "Tamil actress complains about director Seeman to police". The Times of India. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  66. ↑ "Will find my Lankan Tamil dream girl". The New Indian Express. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  67. ↑ B. MURALIDHAR REDDY (27 November 2009). "Director Seeman arrested and deported from Canada". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  68. ↑ Tamilarasu, Prabhakar (14 October 2019). "Seeman stirs up a hornet's nest by glorifying Rajiv Gandhi killers". The Federal. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  69. ↑ "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.
  70. ↑ Correspondent, Special (15 October 2019). "Seeman booked for hailing Rajiv Gandhi's assassination". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  71. ↑ Yamunan, Sruthisagar (30 May 2019). "In Tamil Nadu, an ultra nationalist politician who often invokes Adolf Hitler is gaining support". Scroll.in. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  72. ↑ "பொட்டு அம்மான் குறித்த சீமானின் பேச்சை புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்கள் கண்டிக்க வேண்டும் - வன்னி அரசு - தமிழ்நாடு". IBC Tamilnadu. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  73. ↑ "Seeman defends Yasin Malik's presence in pro-Tamil meeting". Business Standard. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  74. ↑ "EC notice over Seeman's remark on arunthathiyars". The Times of India. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  75. ↑ "Erode (East) bypoll | Seeman booked for making remarks 'insulting' Scheduled Caste community people". The Hindu. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023 – via www.thehindu.com.
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