Mohan G.

Last updated

Mohan G.
Born
Occupations Film director, Screenwriter
Years active2016-present
Other political
affiliations
Pattali Makkal Katchi, Veera Vanniyar Peravai

Mohan G., also known as Mohan G Kshatriyan, [1] is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter, who primarily active in the Tamil cinema. He is best known for Pazhaya Vannarapettai (2016), Draupathi (2020), Rudra Thandavam(2021) and Bakasuran (2023).

Contents

Personal life

Mohan resides in Royapuram, Chennai. [2] He belongs to the Vanniyar community. Mohan G revealed that he had used his name "Mohan G Kshatriyan" during the release of his film Pazhaya Vannarapettai (2016) and claimed to have an attraction towards the name. He also claimed that "Kshatriyan" is a name which represents warrior spirit and also said that he has his caste name written as "Vanniya Kula Kshatriya" in his birth certificate. [3] During an interview in February 2020, Mohan G said the suffix "Kshatriyan" in his name means as “someone who defends society” and said that he is totally unaware of what other varnas do. [4]

Career

Mohan began his directorial career with Pazhaya Vannarapettai (2016), before making Draupathi (2020). The film had to be crowdfunded as no producer was willing to produce the film, fearing it would incite controversy. [5] [6] [7] Opening to negative reviews, [8] the film was criticized for its alleged intent to uphold casteism. [9]

He worked with Richard Rishi again on Rudra Thandavam (2021). [10] The film claimed that people belonging to the scheduled castes misuse the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, an affirmative action legislation meant to protect them from discrimination and violence. It echoed the political views of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) party. [11] The film, criticised for allegedly promoting caste-pride and encouraging communalist hostility, [12] [13] [14] received mostly negative reviews. [15]

In 2023, Mohan worked on Bakasuran featuring Selvaraghavan and Natty in the lead roles. [16] Following the film's release, Mohan noted that he had been approached by Telugu film producer Bellamkonda Suresh to direct the Telugu version of the film. [17]

Mohan's upcoming film will also be with Richard, marking his third collaboration with the actor. [18]

Arrest

The district Cyber Crime Police arrested Mohan G in Chennai on 25 September 2024 for hurting the sentiments of Hindu devotees and Hindus during a YouTube interview where Mohan claimed that impotency-inducing pills were mixed with panchamirtham at the Palani Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani temple. [19] His arrest was after a case filed by the Samayapuram police after the Manager of the Samayapuram Arulmigu Mariamman temple submitted a complaint against Mohan G. [20] The next day Mohan G was represented by a lawyer from Pattali Makkal Katchi and he was released in his own bail by the Judicial Magistrate Court-III in Trichy. [19] [21] After his request of Anticipatory bail, the Madurai high court granted him anticipatory bail on several conditions including giving apologies in Social media and popular English and Tamil newspapers in Tamil Nadu, attending the Palani police station everyday for three weeks to sign and that he should not be a mouth-militant and verify information before making any claims. The Judge also suggested that if Mohan G really cared about the Palani temple, he can go there and do cleanliness work. [19] In November 2024, Mohan G released a video of his apology saying "I express my deepest regret. I will not make any claims like that again without verifying." [22]

Filmography

Films

YearFilmDirectorProducerNotes
2016 Pazhaya Vannarapettai YesNo
2020 Draupathi YesYes
2021 Rudra Thandavam YesYes
2022 Bakasuran YesYes
2026 Draupathi 2 YesNo

References

  1. "Director Mohan G Kshatriyan's next film with Selvaraghavan titled 'Bakasuran'". 16 April 2022.
  2. "Mohan G gets bail after being arrested for his controversial statement on Pazhani Panchamirtham". 25 September 2024 via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  3. "Mohan G opens up about his name in social media". 24 February 2023.
  4. "Morale Boosters for the Unsettled Mighty". 3 May 2020.
  5. Sangeetha, P. "A film on Chennai's 2013 fake marriage cartel". The Times of India.
  6. "உண்மையை சொன்ன திரௌபதி படம்... வரிந்து கட்டி வக்காளத்து வாங்கும் கருணாஸ்..!". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd.
  7. "Director of 'Draupathi' says similarities with popular leader are unintentional". The Hindu. 7 January 2020.
  8. Thirumurthy, Priyanka (28 February 2020). "'Draupathi' review: A vile casteist film that was better off not made". The News Minute.
  9. "Films on inter-caste marriages stoke intense political debate in Tamil Nadu". The New Indian Express. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. "ருத்ர தாண்டவம் - சினிமா விமர்சனம்". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil).
  11. Ganeshan, Balakrishna (22 December 2021). "How cinema is used as a vehicle for hate politics in Tamil Nadu". The News Minute. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  12. Rajamani, Rajesh (28 December 2021). "The Super and Snoozy Seven: Presenting the best, and worst, of Tamil cinema in 2021". Newslaundry. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  13. Singaravel, Bharathy (9 October 2022). "How recent Tamil cinema has tackled gender, caste and communalism on screen". The News Minute. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  14. "Why Tamil Nadu-Style Coalitions of Non-Elite Social Groups are Vital to Politics | NewsClick". 18 October 2021.
  15. "என்னது மிஷ்கின் கையால் இயக்குநர் மோகன் ஜிக்கு விருதா ? அதிர்ச்சியில் ரசிகர்கள்". Dinamani (in Tamil). 15 August 2022.
  16. "Bakasuran first look out: Selvaraghavan looks fierce in Mohan G's next". 26 August 2022.
  17. "Bakasuran remake on the cards". Cinema Express .
  18. "Richard Rishi and Mohan G to collaborate again!". Only Kollywood. 28 February 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 மு.பூபாலன், செ.சல்மான் பாரிஸ்,அ.பாலாஜி (1 October 2024). "Madurai high court Slams and Condition Bail to Director G Mohan". www.vikatan.com/ (in Tamil). Retrieved 28 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. Desk, Online (24 September 2024). "Palani panchamirtham row: Filmmaker Mohan G held, left out on bail; judge says arrest made in haste". dtnext. Retrieved 26 November 2024.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  21. The Hindu Bureau (24 September 2024). "Palani panchamirtham row: Director Mohan G arrested, released on own bail". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  22. Natarajan, Malavica (25 November 2024). ""நான் அப்படி செய்திருக்கக் கூடாது.. ஆழ்மனதிலிருந்து மன்னிப்பு கேட்கிறேன்".. சரணடைந்த இயக்குநர்". Tamil Hindustan Times (in Tamil). Retrieved 28 November 2024.