After the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress demanded a ban on the Tamil film Parasakthi, accusing it of distorting history, movie's director Sudha Kongara has firmly defended her creative choices, reiterating that the film is a fictionalized cinematic interpretation—not a historical document.
In a strongly worded letter dated January 12, 2026, Tamil Nadu Youth Congress State Senior Vice President Arun Bhaskar condemned Parasakthi, alleging that it deliberately misrepresents events surrounding the 1965 anti-Hindi agitations and maligns Congress leaders, including K. Kamaraj and Indira Gandhi. The letter calls for the film to be “strictly banned,” objects to several scenes as fabricated, and warns of legal action if the filmmakers fail to remove the disputed portions and issue a public apology.
For those who have watched the movie and told me there are historical inaccuracies that show congress in a poor light. Here you go.
— Mohan மோகன் (@MKumaramangalam) January 12, 2026
@thearunbhaskar pic.twitter.com/LEfySpMWyk
The Congress youth wing has particularly objected to scenes suggesting Hindi imposition by the Congress government, the portrayal of Indira Gandhi in fictionalised situations, and end-credit visuals that reference alleged violence against Tamil people—claims the party has labelled as baseless and defamatory. The letter has also urged party workers to mobilise against the film under the hashtag #BanParasakthiMovie.
Responding to the allegations, Sudha Kongara has categorically rejected claims that Parasakthi presents itself as historical fact. Addressing objections linked to real-life leaders, she clarified, “That’s not Kamarajar at all. First of all, we have a disclaimer—read out in both English and Hindi—clearly stating that we do not claim to be historically accurate. This is not a history lesson or a documentary.”
The director further stressed that the film is a dramatized work inspired by certain events, not a factual retelling. “When I do a documentary, I will let you know. Parasakthi is a fictionalised, dramatized version of certain events that inspired me. Please do not take them as facts,” she said, adding that even the specific scenes now under scrutiny carry an on-screen disclaimer stating they are cinematized.
#NDTVExclusive | Sudha Kongara (@Sudha_Kongara), director of 'Parasakthi' speaks to NDTV's @latasrinivasan on the release of the film, Congress' allegations and more pic.twitter.com/rQhbeqyfKC
— NDTV (@ndtv) January 13, 2026
Sudha Kongara has also countered claims that key events shown in the film never occurred, maintaining that her narrative is supported by research and documentary evidence, including accounts of Indira Gandhi travelling against protocol to understand ground realities during the period.
“Many things that they say haven’t happened, have happened. And there is research and there is proof for that,” she said, adding that independent journalists have also verified her claims. “Mrs. Indira Gandhi did come down against protocol. She did come down. She wanted to see what was happening in the States. And we have proof of that,” the director asserted.