Swearing-in Ceremony of New Office Bearers of the South Indian Film Press Relations Union
‘Awards for Tamil Cinema (Big Screen and Small Screen) to be Presented Annually from Now On’ – Minister Rajmohan
The swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected office bearers of the South Indian Film Press Relations Union (for the 2026–28 term) was held grandly in Chennai. Mr. Rajmohan, the Minister for School Education, Tamil Official Language & Tamil Culture, and Information & Publicity, attended the event as the special guest.
Film press relations officers play a vital role throughout the lifecycle of a film—from the moment production begins until the finished movie reaches the public and fans via the media, and even through to the proper documentation of its success for posterity. They carry out their duties with immense dedication and excellence. Even in this era dominated by social media, these professionals work tirelessly, managing news dissemination across digital platforms and addressing the responsibility of responding to negative criticism found online. New office bearers were elected to lead the association that champions the welfare of these dedicated professionals. P. Yuvaraj assumed office as President, N. Vijaya Murali as Secretary, V. K. Sundar as Treasurer, S. Bhuvanendran and S. Sathishkumar as Vice-Presidents, and G. Balasubramanian (alias Balan) and R. Udhayakumar as Joint Secretaries. Numerous prominent figures from the Tamil film industry attended the event and congratulated the new office bearers. Attendees included representatives from the Tamil Film Producers Council, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, the South Indian Film Employees Federation, the Tamil Film Directors Association, the South Indian Film Writers Association, and the South Indian Film PRO Union. Actors Arjun Das and Ashok Selvan, producer-director Soundarya Rajinikanth, and producers Mahesh Raj Basliyan and J.M. Basheer were also present.
Speaking at the event, G.K.M. Tamil Kumaran, President of the Producers Council, said, “The PRO Union is a vital and indispensable association within the film industry. While there are countless associations, this one holds great importance. I thank the Honorable Minister Raj Mohan for attending to present certificates to the newly elected office bearers and for delivering a special address. Yuvaraj is a dynamic young man; under his leadership, this association will function excellently. I extend my best wishes on behalf of the Producers Council, which I represent.
Every association in the Tamil film industry owns its own office, except for the Tamil Film Producers Council; our office currently operates in rented premises. If the Tamil Nadu government provides land for a new office, we are prepared to construct the building ourselves. Doing so would earn the Chief Minister and the Minister an enduring, positive reputation and would be a source of pride.
Furthermore, the subsidies due from the Tamil Nadu government for low-budget films—covering the period from 2015 to 2022—have not yet been disbursed. I humbly request the government to release these funds soon.”
In his address, Minister Raj Mohan said, “I offer my heartfelt salutations and best wishes to all the film journalists and public relations professionals who serve as a bridge connecting Tamil cinema—this art form—with the rest of the world. I wish you all well.” If there is anyone among the PROs working here who has faced their fair share of scolding—whether during my days in FM radio, social media, or when I launched my own YouTube channel—it is certainly me. In the past, issues arose regarding granting access to newspapers and websites at press meets; even then, they remained patient and offered both explanations and support. Later, recognizing the changing times and technological shifts, they began to extend their support.
Furthermore, whenever PROs needed a host who could anchor a show in good Tamil for a modest fee, I was the first person who came to mind. If one speaks of an affordable host, it is Rajmohan—and I share this fact with pride.
An award given only once every five years is not truly an award; a real award should be presented annually. I am happy to announce that, with the approval of the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, awards for the film and television industries will henceforth be presented every year.
Quality creative works are our oxygen. In Tamil cinema, the producers are the ones who truly stake everything—literally putting their own heads on the line—to invest in films.
When producers are unable to pay the agreed-upon remuneration at times…
…have provided everything. Producers are the ones with such a motherly heart. Without the Producers’ Council, none of us would be here.
Lyricists, singers, and music composers are the hands of Tamil cinema. There is wonderful magic in Tamil cinema where one cannot tell if a film succeeded because of the movie itself or because of Ilaiyaraaja’s music. Without them, we wouldn’t exist.
If we speak of the legs that carry Tamil cinema forward, they are the stunt masters and dance masters. They work tirelessly, pouring out their blood and sweat.
The production team acts as the stomach of Tamil cinema. If there are five people, food is served in the caravan; if there are fifty, it is served near the caravan; if there are five hundred, they somehow ensure everyone gets fed. It is said that one lakh people participated in the climax shoot of the film Gandhi, which was filmed in India. One cannot even begin to imagine how breakfast and lunch were provided to all those participants, or when the meal breaks were scheduled.
The unsung heroes—the very lifeblood—coursing through the veins of Tamil cinema are you, the PROs. You are constantly on the move, rushing here and there to promote the film.
So, who is the heart of cinema? It is the directors—those who truly do not care about their own hearts. I know many such ‘elder brothers’ who have spent over forty years roaming the Kaveri Corner area of Saligramam, driven by the singular, relentless desire to make a great film. And the entire body of cinema needs beautiful skin, doesn’t it? That is the role of our makeup department. In the world of cinema, assistant directors are the very oxygen that keeps everything alive. One could potentially film a few shots over two hours even without the director, but it is impossible to shoot even a single frame without assistant directors. They, too, are unsung heroes—and there are so many such unsung heroes in the film industry. PROs are the ones who interact with all these individuals without any bias.
Brother Selvamani mentioned the issue of pending payments. Let me explain what that was about. In the past, various associations came together to celebrate the centenary of the great Tamil scholar Kalaignar. I received numerous calls from directors like Lingusamy and Pandiraj, asking me to host that event. At the time, I was unsure whether I would be paid for it, so I gave non-committal answers. Later, a PRO called and said, “R.K. Selvamani wants to speak with you for a moment.” As soon as he called, I simply said, “I am on my way.” From that day on—for a whole month—hardly anyone slept; they worked ceaselessly, constantly drafting and revising scripts. Everyone in Tamil cinema, including superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, attended the event. I have never witnessed such immense human effort before. The film industry is truly a place where such honest, dedicated work takes place. These people are like living monuments to hard work. Given this, you have every right to assertively put forward your demands.
Director Cheran deserves a shower of National Awards for a specific scene in the film Thavamai Thavamirundhu; it was such a powerful, profound piece of work. We are the ones who owe you a debt of gratitude. Whatever you need… I will bring it all to the attention of the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
During our first meeting, the Chief Minister instructed me, “Ensure there are no pending cases regarding films awaiting subsidies. Expedite the necessary measures to release the government-sanctioned subsidies.” I extend my gratitude to the Chief Minister for this.
At one time, Tamil Nadu was the capital of cinema; all film shoots took place here. Gradually, production shifted to other states for various reasons. It is our job to analyze those factors.
On shooting sets, managers or PROs often had to pay money to various people just to secure permissions. That practice has now been put to a stop. Do not pay even a single rupee to anyone who asks. You have the Chief Minister’s backing. Focus solely on the needs of the production team and the artists.
In today’s world, people rarely get praised simply for doing their jobs, as the system has changed. Yet, we are doing our work—doing it excellently and with integrity. This initiative is an effort to operate with complete transparency and openness. After all, it is the film industry where he was nurtured and shaped, eventually leading to him becoming a great leader and the Chief Minister. I have been presented with a golden opportunity to fulfill the requests made by our elder brothers.
When Muthukalai’s wife faced a medical issue—even though I wasn’t specifically called upon—I stepped in personally. I urged the medical team not to view him merely as an actor but as an educationist, ensuring she received comprehensive medical treatment.
I had never worked on a film with ‘Brother’ Pava Lakshmanan, yet I arranged accommodation for him at the MLA Hostel. Even though ‘Captain’ [Vijayakanth] is no longer with us, we all grew up watching his films. I warmly invited Lakshmanan and allocated that hostel room to him.
When the time came, we rushed to honor the late Bharathiraja and Bhagyaraj with full state honors. It was our duty; if we didn’t do this for them, for whom would we?
I also serve as the Minister for School Education. When children with autism from government schools visit my office, I seat them in small chairs, offer them chocolates, and spend time conversing with them. Their parents often feel anxious, as the children might gaze elsewhere instead of answering questions. Seeing this situation would often bring tears to the parents’ eyes. Then, an official suggested a brilliant idea: we selected children with autism from government schools in Chennai and screened world cinema for them at the Chennai Film Institute’s theater. The children expressed great joy while watching the films. Witnessing this, we decided to make such initiatives a monthly event and have already begun doing so.
Children who would not interact with us during conversations were seen talking to the fish and other figures on the screen; they laughed and played happily. During the intermission, it wasn’t just the children who were delighted—their parents, too, were overjoyed to see their children’s enthusiasm. “I followed a similar path—taking up whatever work came my way and striving constantly to rise to a better position. If I stand here today, it is thanks to the strength derived from the world of cinema—a medium that touches the heart. I grew up watching, reading, and listening to great creative works. This opportunity, granted to me by the Honorable Chief Minister, allows me to put those aspirations into action. It reflects the faith he has placed in me—as well as the trust everyone here has in me. I will certainly live up to that trust. I pledge to work with integrity until my last breath, to bring all your requests to the attention of the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and to make every possible effort with his guidance and approval. With that assurance, and offering my greetings and gratitude, I take my leave.”