In the wake of the devastating terr@r att@ck in Pahalgam on April 22, Tamil actor Shanthanu Bhagyaraj turned to social media to deliver a heartfelt appeal for unity. Reflecting on the indiscriminate nature of violence, he emphasised that the attackers made no distinction based on language or region. His message, which quickly gained traction, called on Indians to look beyond linguistic and regional identities and recognise their common humanity.
Shanthanu pointed out that during the attack, the terr@rists didn’t stop to ask whether their victims spoke Hindi, Telugu, Kannada or Tamil. He lamented how, while the external enemy acts with brutal simplicity, within the country people continue to divide themselves over language and state lines — essentially doing “ninety percent” of the enemy’s job for them. He pleaded with his followers to reject the divisions that fuel hate, urging them to remember that their primary identity should be as Indians.
The actor continued by highlighting the grim truth that violence does not discriminate. He reminded his audience that a bullet does not pause to consider the caste or religion of its target. With this, he hoped the att@ck would serve as a wake-up call to end the hatred and infighting that has taken root in society.
Shanthanu tweeted, “In #Pahalgam they did not ask if you were Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil etc They didn’t care if you were North Indian or South Indian or wtv Inga the enemy does not have to waste his time because we are doing 90% his job for him… We are shamelessly fighting (or made to fight) over languages & borders Let’s remember We are just INDIANS & let’s stay united in that Bulletuku theriyadhu nee Enna jaadhi Enna Madham nnu Let this be an eye opener & a full stop to this nonsensical hate & negativity towards each other #PahalgamTerroristAttack”
https://x.com/imKBRshanthnu/status/1915265799926997410
However, not everyone received his message with open arms. A wave of criticism followed, with some social media users pushing back against his statement. Several claimed that specific victims were indeed targeted based on their religious identity, contradicting the general sentiment Shanthanu expressed. Critics labeled his remarks as naive or misinformed, accusing him of glossing over the complexities of what had occurred. Here are some selected reactions:
https://x.com/Sloshed187/status/1915397898365182411
https://x.com/Ravisha64659341/status/1915357289328107540
https://x.com/tskwrites/status/1915413513574769012
https://x.com/VasanthaVijaya4/status/1915378125921542531
https://x.com/ramki_deccan/status/1915386874291773623
https://x.com/BlackDevil4U/status/1915300378385535424
https://x.com/vettrikondan786/status/1915367216238981165
Despite the backlash, Shanthanu’s post sparked a wider conversation about the importance of unity during times of national tragedy. The brutal Pahalgam attack which left 26 people de*d, mostly tourists, has shaken the country, drawing condemnation not only from across India but also from the international community. Film personalities from across southern cinema have also spoken out, collectively expressing grief and outrage over the horrifying incident.
What is your take on Shanthanu’s tweet? Share your views with us.
