The audio of Pulipaarvai, a Tamil film portraying slain LTTE leader Prabhakaran’s son Balachandran as a heroic warrior, was released amid flutter in Chennai on Saturday with students’ forums raising questions about the motive behind making such a movie.

The audio launch was attended by dignitaries, including Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Pon Radhakrishnan, in a multiplex off Anna Salai in Chennai. The movie was made by Vendhar Movies and directed by Pravin Gandhi.

Students from three outfits — Tamil Youth & Students Federation (TYSF), Progressive Students Front and Students Federation of Free Eelam — attended the event.

Some of the students raised their voice against the film, creating a tense situation. The supporters of the movie then got agitated increasing the tension. The police intervened, putting 16 students in preventive arrest.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Prabhakaran, chief co-ordinator, TYSF, has claimed that they were assaulted by the goons from IJK, Naam Tamilar, and BJP. “We just raised questions about a particular scene from the trailer. Instead of replying, they threw us out of the hall and assaulted us,” he has alleged.

However, movie director Pravin Gandhi said the students were not prepared to wait until the launch was over to take questions. “We tried to explain that we would give answers in the end. But they kept causing disturbance. Therefore, we requested the cops to evict them,” he said.

Police say there was a mild scuffle but no assault. No side had filed a complaint either. Therefore the students were to be released.(With inputs from The New Indian Express)