Armstrong death: Pa Ranjith inconsolable, Thalapathy Vijay, Kamal Haasan condemn the ghastly murder of BSP leader

    Filmmaker Pa Ranjith was deeply affected by the brutal murder of Tamil Nadu BSP leader K Armstrong. 

    Pa Ranjith is devastated by the murder of K Armstrong.

    Pa Ranjith is devastated by the murder of K Armstrong.

    Filmmaker Pa Ranjith, the director of Thangalaan, was inconsolable following the brutal murder of Tamil Nadu BSP leader K Armstrong. The 52-year-old political leader, touted to be one of the prominent Dalit voices in state politics, was hacked to death outside his residence on Friday, sending shock waves across the country.

    Ranjith, who was very close to Armstrong, wept openly in public, expressing a flood of emotions. Ranjith is deeply involved in politics in Tamil Nadu and uses the medium of cinema to address political and social issues. The prevailing caste prejudices in society and how they oppress and impede the ambitions and dreams of common people are among the overarching themes in all his movies.

    Ranjith is one of the leading voices discussing the issues of Dalit people. His public expression of distress clearly shows that his bond with Armstrong extended beyond their shared political beliefs and aspirations.

    Tamil superstars Kamal Haasan and Thalapathy Vijay have also expressed their condolences while condemning the senseless violence. "Bahujan Samaj Party State President Mr. Armstrong's assassination is shocking and painful. My deepest condolences to Armstrong's bereaved family and friends. The Tamil Nadu government should take necessary precautionary measures to prevent such heinous crimes from happening again. I request you to maintain law and order without compromise and ensure everyone's safety," said Vijay in his statement.

    "His death is a loss for the people of the Scheduled Caste who constantly spoke for the downtrodden. The assassination of a state leader of a national party by mercenaries in a busy area is highly condemnable. I urge the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate action against the criminals involved in this," remarked Kamal Haasan.