Actor Vijay Antony found himself embroiled in controversy following the release of a poster for his upcoming film Romeo. The poster depicts Antony and co-star Mrinalini Ravi on their wedding night, with Mrinalini fixing herself a drink while Antony looks on with a jar of milk in hand.
At a recent press meet for the film, Antony was questioned about the poster and whether it promoted drinking among women. He responded, “Let‘s not demarcate that alcohol is only for men. Drinking is for everyone. If men can drink, women too can. I am not promoting drinking, just saying everything is common for both men and women. If we are to say it is wrong to drink, we should tell it to both genders.“
When further questioned if the film linked the rise of drinking among women to the IT revolution, Antony said, “No, there‘s no such thing. We have been drinking for a long time. We used to consume saraayam (now banned in TN). We now take different types of drinks. Two thousand years ago, even Jesus (Christ) drank ‘dratchai rasam’ (which is also a form of intoxication). Even we have read in history that ‘soma bhanam’ were used during Kings ruling.“
These remarks drew criticism from the Tamil Nadu Christian Churches Federation (TNCCF), who issued a statement condemning Antony for “demeaning Jesus Christ and hurting the sentiments of several Christians.“ They demanded a public apology from the actor.
Responding swiftly, Antony issued a statement clarifying his stance. He stated that his remarks were misinterpreted and that he “never uttered anything or even dreamt of portraying Jesus Christ, who is beyond any religion, in a demeaning manner.“ Vijay Antony’s full statement is below.
