Udhav Naig

Chennai

Film and Political Journalist at The Hindu

Politics and Films, The Hindu| Tweets are personal opinions | University of Essex | Retweets are not endorsements

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Articles

Despite being an NDA ally, we abstained: PMK on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025

2 weeks ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

The PMK, on Friday, rejected criticism against PMK president and Rajya Sabha M.P. Anbumani Ramadoss’s decision to abstain from voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha by arguing that no other party in India has consistently supported the welfare and rights of Muslims as much as the PMK. PMK spokesperson K. Balu said that the DMK and other INDIA bloc parties are misleading the people by claiming that PMK’s decision to abstain helped in passing of the bill in the parliament.
Vanniyar Sangam rally may give clear indication of PMK’s political path for Assembly polls

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

The Vanniyar Sangam’s Chithirai Pournami Thiruvizha at Mamallapuram in May will most likely provide a hint as to which path the PMK, an ally of the BJP, would take in the 2026 Assembly election. The Vanniyar Sangam and PMK office bearers are planning to mobilise “at least 10 lakh” people for the public rally to be held on that day.
Vijay cannot sway ideologically aligned youth, feels VCK leadership

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

The Viduthalai Chiduthaigal Katchi leadership feels its ideologically inclined cadres would not be swayed by actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. At the VCK’s public meeting in Villupuram on Sunday, its founder Thol. Thirumavalavan said every time an actor floats a political party, the media writes about how youngsters in VCK would start supporting the new party.
Determined to wage ‘ideological battle’ against Periyar: NTK amid rape case against Seeman

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

Despite the ongoing crisis involving Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) coordinator Seeman, who was questioned in a rape case filed by an actor, sources say the party will not back down from criticising Dravidian icon Periyar E.V. Ramasamy. The party will also go ahead with its restructuring programme in preparation for the 2026 Assembly elections. The Supreme Court had recently issued an interim stay on the investigation against Mr. Seeman after the Madras High Court refused to quash the case.
PMK hopes to rally ‘every community’ with demand for caste-census

1 month ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

Pattali Makkal Katchi’s Samaya Samudhaya Nallinakka Maanadu’ (Religious and Community Harmony Rally), held in Kumbakonam on Sunday, marks a shift from the party’s earlier controversial approach of mobilising the Vanniyar community invoking caste-pride and alienating other communities, and instead using a ‘caste census’ as a rallying point to garner support from every community, including the Scheduled Castes.
Activists flag police’s approach in crimes related to members of Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu

2 months ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

The recent spurt in violent attacks against members of Scheduled Castes (SC) in Tamil Nadu has caused a concern among SC intellectuals and human rights activists who were up in arms against the CB-CID charge sheet in the Vengaivayal human faeces case, which identified three SC youth as the perpetrators.
TNCC chief subjected to caste slur by Cong. leader

2 months ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

Hours after announcing that he would offer prayers at the Subramania Swamy temple and the Sikkandar Dargah in Tirupparakundram, as a counter to protests by the Hindu Munnani, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai was reportedly subjected to a ‘caste slur’ from a senior Congress leader from the south. The incident allegedly occurred when the senior leader called Mr. Selvaperunthagai to protest against the announcement, which he felt would “alienate Hindu voters”.
Vengaivayal case: Police report opens can of worms

2 months ago | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

The recent police chargesheet naming three youths — Muraliraja, Muthukrishnan and Sudharsan — from the Scheduled Caste community as the main accused in the case of human faeces being dumped into an overhead drinking water tank in a Dalit neighbourhood of Vengaivayal in Pudukkottai district in December, 2022, has potentially opened a can of worms in a State where caste discrimination is rife and political discourse is often shaped along the lines of caste and linguistic identity.
PMK and VCK engage in a verbal spat over violence in Nemili village

Jan 19, 2025 | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

A political friction has surfaced again between the PMK and the VCK over the recent violence at Nemili village in Ranipet district involving two groups, wherein two youth sustained serious burns. While PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss claimed that those who attacked the youth were either members or supporters of the VCK, the latter’s chief, Thol. Thirumavalavan, has denied it. The Chidambaram MP, in a statement on Saturday, accused Dr. Anbumani and PMK founder S.
Lit for Life 2025: Kamal Haasan: A cinematic journey

Jan 19, 2025 | thehindu.com | Udhav Naig

Film academic, author and filmmaker, K. Hariharan, whose book titled ‘Kamal Haasan: A Cinematic Journey’, tries to make sense of his career through 40 films of his illustrious career that spans more than six decades and close to 250 films, was in conversation with Mr. Haasan’s close collaborators, actor Nasser and actor Abhirami here at the final session at The Hindu Lit For Life 2025 here at the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall at Lady Andal School here in Chennai on Sunday.