Senthamizhan Seeman is an Indian politician, Tamil Nationalist ideologue and the chief-coordinator of the political party Naam Tamilar Katchi in Tamil Nadu. He is an advocate of the creation of vote bank for Tamils. Prior to his involvement in politics, Seeman worked as a filmmaker and actor.
Personal life
Seeman was born in Aranaiyur, Tamil Nadu to Senthamizhan and Annammal Senthamizhan. He married Kayalvizhi, daughter of K. Kalimuthu in September 2013 in the presence of Pazha Nedumaran and others. The ceremony was held according to Tamil traditions at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam, Chennai.
Film career
Seeman took up film direction as a career after being inspired by the films of his mentor, Bharathi Raja and the work of Manivannan. Seeman started his career by directing Panchalankurichi, a village action film starring Prabhu and Madhubala. In 2006, he had a come back with a successful film Thambi with actor Madhavan.
Politics and activism
Seeman is a campaigner for the rights of the Sri Lankan Tamil people and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, braving detention. He is a follower of the LTTE founder and leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. He was detained twice under the National Security Act first for speaking in favour of the LTTE and again for protesting the killing of a Tamil fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy. Seeman along with several other Tamil activists gathered on 18 May 2009, coinciding the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War at Madurai to form the Naam Tamilar Iyakkam, as a social outfit. It subsequently turned into a political party named Naam Tamilar Katchi. In November 2009, while on a speaking tour in Canada, Seeman was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency for giving a hate-filled incendiary speech at an event in Toronto. In the speech, he called for restarting the civil war in Sri Lanka, and allegedly said "No Sinhala can live," going on to state that the LTTE should have bombed 100 Sinhala schools for every Tamil school which was attacked.
2011 anti-Congress campaigning
Upon his release from a five-month detention at the Vellore prison, Seeman actively campaigned for the defeat of the Congress party in the State Assembly elections for their role in the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka. He was neutral on MDMK and DMK while extended support to AIADMK. Seeman campaigned in 59 of the 63 places the Congress party were contesting, and the party were defeated in all of those constituencies except for one.
Political activism (2011–2019)
Since the 2011 Assembly elections, Seeman and his party have been actively involved in various causes such as the anti-nuclear Power plant protests in Kudankulam or the attacks on Tamil fishermen perpetuated by the Sri Lankan Navy that has claimed the lives of over 800 fishermen. During the parliamentary elections in 2014, Seeman has stated that the Naam Tamilar Katchi would campaign for the defeat of the candidates fielded by the Congress, BJP and the DMDK where they are contesting and will support ADMK. Seeman has also appeared as a host and anchor of Makkal Munnal, a weekly television talk show aired on Thanthi TV in which various social activists, political leaders and academicians are part of the panel. In February 2015, the party conceived Veera Thamizhar Munnani, aimed at reviving and recovering age-old Tamil culture and traditions. In September 2016, Seeman was among some 176 people arrested after "attempting to lay siege to Srivaikuntam dam, where desilting works under way as per a directive from the National Green Tribunal".
2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections
Naam Tamilar Katchi contested in the 2016 assembly election. The party contested in all the 234 assembly constituencies on its own, in the elections Tamil Nadu and as well as those in Puducherry. The election symbol allocated for the party was twin candles. Seeman introduced his candidates in Cuddalore in February 2016. He lost the deposit and got the lowest vote among all the other candidates. He declared that he will contest as the Chief Ministerial candidate from the Cuddalore constituency. NTK, in the 2016 TN General Assembly election, failed to win a single seat.
Naam Tamilar Katchi contested in all the 39 constituencies present in Tamil Nadu. NTK lost deposits in all constituencies. NTK faired well in rural areas when compared to urban areas.
Filmography
Ethnic purism and other Controversies
Glorification of Rajiv Gandhi assination
While Campaigning for Vikravandi assembly by-election he declared that We proudly declare that we killed our enemy for he had sent Indian Peace Keeping Force to Eelam that killed innumerous Tamils. This speech raised criticism from people of various political spectrum. Following this event many charges were booked against him by the police. However Seeman downplayed these charges
Ethnic Purism
The most controversial aspect of Seeman and his political party is that of Ethnic purism arbirtarily based on caste lines. He claims decline of Tamil people is due to continuous rule of Tamilnadu by 'Vandheris' and only hope for Tamils is to elect "Real Tamilian" to power. He has not shied away in the past to use image of Hitler in his party banners often quoting him to justify his stand on Ethnic purism. This led to outcry of linguistic minorities accusing him of racism, promotion ethnic purity and spreading of hatred based on caste.
Romanticization of Criminals and Menial Jobs
He is also criticised for calling Veerapan as 'forest protector' and for his claim that if he becomes the chief minister he would declare goat herding, agricultural labour and other menial jobs in rural areas as 'Government jobs' and salary would be paid by government exchequer. Similar claims include referring to Palmyra toddy as healthy beverage and that he would announce it as a national beverage.
