Kamal Ghorui
The recent verbal brawl between R. Parthiban and Trisha Krishnan has created a storm in Tamil cinema and on social media. What started as a tongue slip during an event has become a controversy. This incident led to an angry reaction from Trisha, followed by an elaboration by Parthiban that fans posted on social media. The issue drew attention partly because both actors previously shared screen space in director Mani Ratnam’s epic ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ films.
R Parthiban’s stage moment that started the controversy
The controversy began during a private media event where Parthiban was invited as a guest. In an interactive section, the presenters showed several actresses’ photographs on the screen, asking him to comment or say lines of poetry on them. When Trisha’s photo appeared, the actor-director made a remark referring to her famous character Kundavai from ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’ and ‘Ponniyin Selvan: II.’
Parthiban said that “this Kundavai should be kept inside the house for some time,” adding that it might help avoid unnecessary problems. He also remarked that some poems are better enjoyed rather than spoken aloud. While the comment appeared to be framed as wordplay, the remark quickly went viral online and triggered criticism from several quarters.
Social media backlash grows
Shortly after the video was uploaded, some netizens slammed the comments made by Parthiban, stating that there was no reason for him to say that. Several fans of Trisha and industry observers argued that such remarks about a female actor on a public stage were disrespectful.The issue gained momentum as clips from the event began circulating widely, sparking heated discussions about whether the comment crossed a line.
Trisha’s sharp response
Trisha later responded to the issue through a post on X (formerly Twitter). She revealed that the organisers of the event had informed her that her name and photograph were added to the show at the last minute following a request made through an assistant.The actress strongly criticised the remark, stating that holding a microphone does not automatically make someone’s words intelligent or humorous. She further said that careless and uncivil comments often reveal more about the person speaking than about the person being spoken about. Her response quickly gained support from many fans and followers online.
Parthiban expresses regret
Parthiban then stepped up to take the initiative to address all the allegations, and he apologized. The actor-filmmaker said that what happened had turned out to be unfortunate and admitted that his attempt at wordplay had gone wrong. He added that his comment, which he intended as playful language, had been misunderstood and that he could only express regret for how it had been perceived.Despite the clarification, the episode has continued to be widely discussed, especially because both Parthiban and Trisha were part of the blockbuster ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ films, where Trisha played Princess Kundavai while Parthiban appeared as the Chola warrior Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyar.
