Seeman (politician) explained

Seeman
Office1:Chief-coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi
Predecessor1:Position established
Term Start1:18 May 2010
Party:Naam Tamilar Katchi (since 2010)
Otherparty:Naam Tamilar Iyakkam (2009–2010)
Dravidar Kazhagam (2006–2009)
Birth Name:Senthamizhan Seeman
Birth Date:1966 11, df=y
Birth Place:Aranaiyur, Madras State, India
Spouse:[1]
Children:2
Residence:Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation:
  • Film director
  • Actor
  • Politician

Senthamizhan Seeman[2] [3] [4] [5] (born 8 November 1966) is an Indian film director, actor and politician. He is the leader and chief-coordinator of the Naam Tamilar Katchi political party in Tamil Nadu. He is a strong advocate for regional autonomy and Tamil nationalism by focusing on the Tamil language, identity, and culture.[6]

Seeman began his career as a filmmaker in the mid-1990s, working on films such as Panchalankurichi (1996) and Veeranadai (2000). The failure of his early films made it difficult for him to attract offers as a director and several of his proposed projects were stalled in the late 1990s. He later made a comeback through the successful vigilante film Thambi (2006), though the commercial failure of his next film, prompted Seeman to prioritise commitments as a supporting actor in the late 2000s.

In the early 2010s, Seeman founded the Naam Tamilar Katchi, a Tamil ultranationalist political party, and has since often been in the news for his controversial statements on Indian and Tamil social issues.[2] [3] [4]

Early life

Seeman was born in Aranaiyur, Tamil Nadu to Senthamizhan, member of the Indian National Congress and Annammal in Aranaiyur, Tamil Nadu. He studied in Government Primary School in Aranayur up to class 5th. He attended K.K. Ibrahim Ali High School from Class 6th to Class 10th and finished his class 11 and 12 in Ilayankudi. He completed his degree undergraduate economics at Dr. Zakir Hussain College in Ilayankudi.[7] [1] Seeman has a brother named James Peter.[8] [9] During his high school and college years, Seeman was enthralled with the ideals of the Dravidian movement. He moved to Chennai to pursue his dream of working in the film industry.

Film career

See also: Seeman filmography. Seeman took up film direction as a career after being inspired by the films of Bharathiraja and Manivannan. He worked as an assistant director with Bharathiraja and Manivannan.[10] Seeman started his career by directing Panchalankurichi (1996), a village action film starring Prabhu and Madhubala.[11] He collaborated with Prabhu again in Iniyavale (1998), a romantic film which also featured actresses Suvalakshmi, Gouthami and Keerthi Reddy. Seeman's third film was Veeranadai (2000) with Sathyaraj and Khushbu, which garnered mixed review from critics and underperformed commercially.[12] The failure of his initial films made it difficult for Seeman to attract producers to work on his next films. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, he worked on four other projects, Vaigai Karai Oram with Vijayakanth, Anandham with Karthik, Karma Veerar with Sarathkumar, and Sethupathi Cheemaiyile with Rajkiran, but all failed to develop beyond production.[13] [14]

Seeman then made the village-based vigilante film, Thambi (2006), starring Madhavan in the titular role.[15] [16] The film's production was briefly halted following a disagreement between the actor and director, after Seeman raised an objection to Madhavan returning to be with his family for the birth of his son.[17] The film opened to mixed reviews but performed well commercially.[18] [19] His most recent directorial release, Vaazhthugal (2008), received negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. A reviewer from Sify noted the "execution is tacky and the final outcome is a dreary and boring message film that leaves you exhausted."[20]

The failure of Vaazhthugal made it difficult for Seeman to find producers and actors to work on his other proposed projects, despite his interest in continuing work as a film director.[21] In the late 2000s, Seeman attempted to make a film titled Pagalavan with either Ajith Kumar or Madhavan starring, but was unsuccessful.[22] Seeman then hoped to make the film with Vikram for director Bala's production studio, but the venture did not materialise.[23] In mid-2010, producer Kalaipuli S. Dhanu agreed to finance the project, and Seeman held talks with Vijay to be a part of the film.[24] [25] The actor later refused to work on the project, which prompted Seeman to speak out against Vijay.[26] In 2013, Seeman approached Jiiva, Jayam Ravi, Arya and Vishal to work on the project, but none of the actors agreed to be a part of the film.[26] [27] [28] In 2017, Seeman was in talks with Vijay Antony to feature in the lead role, and then with Silambarasan in 2018, but both actors later opted to prioritise other projects.[29] [30] In 2017, Seeman announced another project titled Kobam with G. V. Prakash Kumar in the lead role. However, despite an announcement, the film failed to find producers and was stalled.[31] [32]

Since the mid-2000s, Seeman has mostly worked as an actor. His notable roles including supporting characters in Pallikoodam (2007) and Evano Oruvan (2007).

Politics and activism

Early political life and Naam Tamilar Katchi

Seeman addressed Periyar's ideology and caste abolition in the film industry. In the 2006 assembly elections, he campaigned for the DMK alliance, and notably sided with Pattali Makkal Katchi's S. Ramadoss and delivered speeches against the candidature of Vijayakanth.[33] He met with LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2008 when the Sri Lankan Civil War between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE was looming. Following this, Seeman began to speak out against the killings of several Tamils during Sri Lanka's civil war. Seeman's ensuing speech in Rameswaram marked a turning point in his political career for which he was arrested. He was also detained for continuing to speak out in Erode in favour of the LTTE. He was subjected to the National Security Act, passport block and state monitoring.

Seeman was arrested in March 2009 under the National Security act for speaking in favour of the LTTE and was lodged at the Kalapet prison.[34]

Seeman along with several other 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.[35] It subsequently transformed into a political party named Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).[36]

Seeman was arrested at Chepauk under the National Security Act for making inflammatory speeches at a meeting protesting against the killing of a Tamil fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy.[37] He was detained at the Vellore Central Prison for five months.[38]

Political activism (2011–2019)

See also: 2013 anti-Sri Lanka protests. Upon his release from a five-month detention at the Vellore prison in 2011, Seeman actively campaigned for the defeat of the Indian National Congress in the 2011 Legislative Assembly elections.[39] [40] He was neutral on the MDMK and DMK and supportive of the AIADMK.[41] [42] Seeman campaigned in 59 of the 63 places the INC contested in, and the party was defeated in all of those constituencies except one.[43] [44]

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[45] [46] or the attacks on Tamil fishermen perpetuated by the Sri Lankan Navy[47] that claimed the lives of over 800 fishermen.[48]

During the parliamentary elections in 2014, Seeman stated that the NTK would campaign for the defeat of all candidates fielded by the INC, BJP and DMDK and would support the AIADMK.[41]

In February 2015, the party conceived Veera Thamizhar Munnani, aimed at reviving and recovering age-old Tamil culture and traditions.[49] In September 2016, Seeman was among some 176 people arrested after "attempting to lay siege to Srivaikuntam dam, where desilting works [were] under way as per a directive from the National Green Tribunal".[50]

2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections

The NTK contested in the 2016 assembly election, with Seeman as the Chief Ministerial candidate from the Cuddalore constituency.[51] The party contested in all the 234 assembly constituencies on its own, in the elections Tamil Nadu and as well as those in Puducherry.[52] Seeman contested in the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Cuddalore constituency and polled 12,497 votes and lost by a low margin, finishing fifth and forfeiting his deposits in the process.[53] The party failed to win a single seat.[54]

2019 Indian general elections

In the 2019 Indian general elections, the NTK contested in all 39 constituencies in Tamil Nadu,[55] but only won 4% of the vote share, thus losing deposits in all constituencies.[56] NTK fared better in rural areas when compared to urban areas.[57]

Electoral performance

!Elections!Constituency!Party!Result!Votes!Vote %
2016 Assembly ElectionsCuddaloreNTK12,4977.24%
2021 Assembly ElectionsThiruvottiyurNTK48,59724.43%

Personal life

Seeman is married to Kayalvizhi, daughter of K. Kalimuthu, former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the AIADMK party. The ceremony was held according to Tamil traditions at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam, Chennai in September 2013.[58]

Actress Vijayalakshmi claimed that she was in a relationship with Seeman who she had met on the sets of Seeman's film Vaazhthugal during 2007.[59] In 2011, she filed a police complaint against him for cheating on her.[60] The pair continued to engage in a public war of words throughout the 2010s, with Vijayalakshmi later attempting suicide in July 2020, blaming Seeman and his supporters of torture.[61] [62] In 2011, Seeman publicly expressed his interest in marrying a Sri Lankan Tamil woman and chose Yarlmathy, a widow of an LTTE fighter, but later did not do so.[63]

Controversies

Seeman has received several threat letters for his support of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other controversial remarks on Indian social issues.[64]

One of the most controversial aspects of Seeman and his political party is that of ethnic purism arbitrarily based on caste lines. He claims the "decline of Tamil people" is due to continuous rule of Tamil Nadu by 'Vandheris' (refers to outsiders or non-Tamils, especially Telugus based on caste and history of immigration) and that the only hope for Tamils is to elect a "real Tamilian" to power.[65]

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 reportedly talked about 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.[66]

In 2013, Seeman invited Kashmiri separatist leader Yaseen Malik for one of his public meetings, which drew significant criticism from both the INC and BJP.[67]

While campaigning for the Vikravandi assembly by-election in 2019, Seeman purportedly justified the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, for Gandhi had sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka, which would then go on to kill of numerous Tamil civilians. The speech raised criticism from people from all across the political spectrum. Following this event, many charges were booked against Seeman by the police.[68] [69] [70]

Although Seeman openly claims to be a supporter of Tamil Eelam and LTTE, the sincerity behind his proclaimed stance has been questioned multiple times. For example, an audio leak in 2019 confirmed the fact that Seeman opposed the pro-LTTE film Methagu despite the movie's positive reception among Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils alike. In another leaked audio, he was caught using profanity against late LTTE fighter Pottu Amman.[71]

In February 2023, during the Erode East Assembly constituency by-election campaign, when talking about the Vijaynagar kings capturing Tamil Nadu, he had mentioned "they brought members of the Arunthathiyar community to this region to do scavenging".[72] He received backlash and his comments also sparked protests by Arunthathiyar outfits. The Election Commission also issued a notice to the NTK seeking an explanation. Seeman was also booked by the Karungalpalayam police, registering a case under three sections.[73]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seeman Profile . OneIndia . 11 April 2019.
  2. News: Nath. Akshaya. 16 October 2019. Vellore: Congress burns effigy of leader who justified Rajiv Gandhi's killing in election speech. India Today. en. 25 March 2021.
  3. News: Yamunan . Sruthisagar . Why many believe Rajinikanth has become the BJP's loudspeaker in Tamil Nadu . 5 July 2023 . Scroll.in . 11 February 2020.
  4. Web site: How the Hindu Munnani Seized Vinayaga Chaturthi to Spew Venom. 1 August 2020. The Wire.
  5. Web site: தலைமையகம். 10 September 2016. மாரியப்பன் தங்கவேலு தமிழினத்திற்கே பெருமை சேர்த்திருக்கிறார் – செந்தமிழன் சீமான் வாழ்த்து. 30 December 2020. ta-IN.
  6. News: Raju . Nidharshana . Shaji . Sukanya . 13 April 2024 . Tamil Nadu party NTK fields 50% women candidates for 3rd time: Ideology or strategy? . The News Minute . 4 June 2024.
  7. Web site: தலைமையகம். 18 May 2010. செந்தமிழன் சீமான் – தலைமை ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர். 29 December 2020. ta-IN.
  8. News: Brother moves HC over NSA detention of Seeman. 30 December 2020 . The Times of India . 4 August 2010 . en.
  9. News: Case registered against Seeman . 30 December 2020 . The Hindu . 7 February 2010 . en-IN.
  10. News: Vijayanad. A. 23 March 2021. சீமான் வளர்ந்தது எப்படி? திராவிட இயக்கப் பாசம் முதல் தமிழ் தேசியம் வரை. ta. BBC News தமிழ். 20 April 2021.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20070815073739/http://www.cinesouth.com/cgi-bin/filmography/newfilmdb.cgi?name=panchalanguruchi Panchalanguruchi (1996)
  12. News: Film Review: Veera Nadai. The Hindu. 28 April 2000. www.thehindu.com.
  13. Web site: dinakaran. 12 March 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050312000422/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/15-07-98/seemaan.htm. 12 March 2005.
  14. Web site: dinakaran. 1 March 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050301211557/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/11-12-98/ravichan.htm. 1 March 2005.
  15. Web site: Behindwoods : "Maddy" Madhavan. www.behindwoods.com.
  16. Web site: An actor who researches on the Net. www.rediff.com.
  17. Web site: Behindwoods : Madhavan makes amends with the producer's guild. www.behindwoods.com.
  18. News: Madhavan returns as Thambi. The Hindu. 25 February 2006. www.thehindu.com.
  19. Web site: Thambi. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314102337/http://www.sify.com/movies/thambi-review-tamil-pclvQCcdiiidb.html. dead. 14 March 2016. Sify.
  20. Web site: Movie Review : Vazhthukkal. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212040301/http://www.sify.com/movies/vazhthukkal-review-tamil-14591429.html. dead. 12 December 2013. 20 February 2014. Sify.
  21. News: Madhavan is like a family member: Seeman. The Times of India.
  22. Web site: It is not Ajith, it is Madhavan - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie News - Seeman Pagalavan Thambi Vazhthukkal Ajith. www.behindwoods.com.
  23. Web site: Vijay - Tamil Movie News - Vijay snatches it from Vikram - Vijay | Pahalavan | Vikram | Seeman - Behindwoods.com. www.behindwoods.com.
  24. Web site: Vijay Extracts A Promise From Seeman - Vijay - Seeman - Pagalavan - - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com. www.behindwoods.com.
  25. Web site: What Is The Status Of Pagalavan? - Vijay - Seeman - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com. www.behindwoods.com.
  26. Web site: Vijay Will Definitely Regret, Says Seeman - Vijay - Seeman - Pagalavan - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com. www.behindwoods.com.
  27. Web site: Jayam Ravi takes Vijay's role!, jayam ravi, seeman. www.behindwoods.com.
  28. Web site: Vijay Declines, Vikram Too Follows - Vijay - Vikram - Jiiva - Seeman - Pagalavan - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com. www.behindwoods.com.
  29. Web site: Politician Seeman to direct a film with G.V.Prakash as the hero. 6 April 2017. Behindwoods.
  30. Web site: Simbu is the real Superstar! - Tamil News. 7 January 2019. IndiaGlitz.com.
  31. Web site: GV Prakash and Seeman unite. Janani. K. 3 June 2017. Deccan Chronicle.
  32. Web site: GV Prakash, Seeman join hands for Kobam. The New Indian Express. 3 June 2017 .
  33. Web site: Tamil movies : Vijayakanth: Will fortune favour the bold?. www.behindwoods.com. 7 April 2023.
  34. Web site: Seeman's remand extended . The Indian Express . 2 April 2014 . 17 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220417153211/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2009/mar/07/seemans-remand-extended-31051.html . dead .
  35. Web site: ஆய்வுகள் . Tamilkathir . 30 November 2012 . 1 January 2013 . ta . 7 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407093659/http://www.tamilkathir.com/news/3531/57/.aspx . dead .
  36. Web site: Gopal Ethiraj from Chennai . Seeman to convert his 'Naam Tamilar' into political party . Asian Tribune . 15 April 2010 . 20 February 2014.
  37. News: National Security Act slapped on Seeman . The Indian Express . 2 April 2014 . 29 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210529152832/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2010/jul/18/national-security-act-slapped-on-seeman-170795.html . dead .
  38. News: Out of jail, Seeman vows to defeat DMK in polls. 20 April 2021. The New Indian Express. 11 December 2010.
  39. Web site: Naam Tamilar Katchi to work for defeat of Cong in TN, IBN Live News . https://archive.today/20130126163050/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/naam-tamilar-katchi-to-work-for-defeat-of-cong-in-tn/584531.html . dead . 26 January 2013 . CNN-IBN . 20 February 2011 . 20 February 2014.
  40. Web site: Seeman changes tune, targets Congress . The Indian Express . 2 April 2014 . 17 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220417112230/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/mar/25/seeman-changes-tune-targets-congress-238514.html . dead .
  41. Web site: NTK Neutral on Vaiko, to Back Jaya . 2 April 2014 . 1 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301202457/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2014/mar/30/NTK-Neutral-on-Vaiko-to-Back-Jaya-592409.html . dead .
  42. Web site: Seeman effect on Congress Party . Sidharth Goutham . Sundar . TruthDive . 2 April 2014 . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20131012050456/http://truthdive.com/2011/04/20/seeman-effect-on-congress-party.html . 12 October 2013 . dmy-all .
  43. Web site: Seeman tears into Congress . The Indian Express . 2 April 2014 . 1 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301165402/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/apr/12/seeman-tears-into-congress-243767.html . dead .
  44. Web site: Charges a Bid to Ruin Seeman's Image . The New Indian Express . 7 April 2015 . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421054045/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/jun/03/charges-a-bid-to-ruin-seemans-image-259068.html . dead .
  45. Web site: Kudankulam . 7 October 2013 . 16 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016112522/http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/kudankulam-protesters-bury-themselves-in-sand/7596.htm . dead .
  46. News: Madurai bureau . Fishermen fast goes on for fifth day . The Hindu . 16 September 2012 . 20 February 2014 . Chennai, India.
  47. Web site: Sathiyam News Agency – CPI would be made political orphans in TN . 16 October 2013 . 16 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016070756/http://sathiyam.tv/english/tamil-nadu/cpim-would-be-made-as-political-orphans-seeman . dead .
  48. News: DMK, AIADMK target govt on Indian fishermen's arrest in Sri Lanka . https://archive.today/20131016061218/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-15/india/37743611_1_maritime-boundary-indian-fishermen-tamil-fishermen . dead . 16 October 2013 . . 16 October 2013 .
  49. News: Seeman floats youth wing . The Hindu . 7 April 2015. 9 February 2015 .
  50. Web site: Nallakannu, Seeman arrested near Srivaikuntam reservoir . The Hindu . 7 April 2015.
  51. News: 28 March 2016 . Seeman Sets Campaign Ball Rolling in Cuddalore, Meets Voters . The New Indian Express . 12 April 2016 . 11 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511142924/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2016/mar/28/Seeman-Sets-Campaign-Ball-Rolling-in-Cuddalore-Meets-Voters-917092.html . dead .
  52. News: Muruganandham . T . 27 March 2016 . One, Two, Three, Four And More CM Aspirants in TN . The New Indian Express . 12 April 2016 . 15 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515090628/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2016/mar/27/One-Two-Three-Four-And-More-CM-Aspirants-in-TN-916483.html . dead .
  53. News: The star losers of Tamil Nadu: Party leaders who could not win their own seat . 2 April 2021 . The News Minute . 19 May 2016 . en.
  54. Web site: General Election to Legislative Assembly Trends & Results 2016 . Election Commission of India. https://web.archive.org/web/20161124073713/http://eciresults.nic.in/PartyWiseResultS22.htm?st=S22. 24 November 2016.
  55. Web site: Lok Sabha elections 2019: Here are the candidates fighting under Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi in Tamil Nadu . The New Indian Express . 9 April 2019 . 30 November 2019.
  56. News: Candidates of AMMK, MNM, NTK lose deposit in all LS constituencies . The Hindu . 30 November 2019. 25 May 2019 . Jesudasan . Dennis S. .
  57. News: MNM fares well in urban pockets, NTK in rural areas . The Hindu . 30 November 2019. 24 May 2019 . Naig . Udhav . https://web.archive.org/web/20210213013034/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/candidates-of-ammk-mnm-ntk-lose-deposit-in-all-ls-constituencies/article27241174.ece. 13 February 2021.
  58. Web site: Seeman ties the knot. OneIndia Tamil. 8 September 2013. 8 September 2013.
  59. எஸ்.மகேஷ்,மலையரசு . 'இனிமேலும் பொறுத்துக்கொள்ள முடியாது!' - சீமான் விவகாரத்தில் கொதிக்கும் நடிகை விஜயலட்சுமி . 18 April 2022 . . 11 March 2020 . ta.
  60. News: Case against Seeman . 4 April 2021 . The Hindu . 4 June 2011 . en-IN.
  61. News: There is no limit to Seeman's atrocities: Vijayalakshmi . . 28 May 2020 . 20 May 2024.
  62. News: Tamil actress complains about director Seeman to police. 4 April 2021. The Times of India. 2 June 2011.
  63. News: Will find my Lankan Tamil dream girl . 29 December 2020 . The New Indian Express . 5 June 2011.
  64. Web site: Seeman receives threat letter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210527162257/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/mar/03/seeman-receives-threat-letter-232139.html . 27 May 2021 . 2 April 2014 . The Indian Express.
  65. News: Yamunan . Sruthisagar . In Tamil Nadu, an ultra nationalist politician who often invokes Adolf Hitler is gaining support . 5 July 2023 . Scroll.in . 30 May 2019.
  66. News: B. MURALIDHAR REDDY . Director Seeman arrested and deported from Canada . The Hindu . 27 November 2009 . 17 December 2016.
  67. Web site: Seeman defends Yasin Malik's presence in pro-Tamil meeting. Business Standard. 21 May 2013. 7 April 2023.
  68. Web site: Tamilarasu. Prabhakar. 14 October 2019. Seeman stirs up a hornet's nest by glorifying Rajiv Gandhi killers. 1 August 2020. The Federal. en-US.
  69. Web site: 14 October 2019. NTK leader Seeman 'justifies' Rajiv Gandhi's killing, booked by police as Congress seeks action. 1 August 2020. The Indian Express. en.
  70. News: Correspondent. Special. 15 October 2019. Seeman booked for hailing Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. en-IN. The Hindu. 1 August 2020. 0971-751X.
  71. Web site: பொட்டு அம்மான் குறித்த சீமானின் பேச்சை புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்கள் கண்டிக்க வேண்டும் - வன்னி அரசு - தமிழ்நாடு. IBC Tamilnadu. 7 April 2023.
  72. News: EC notice over Seeman's remark on arunthathiyars. The Times of India . 23 February 2023. 7 April 2023.
  73. News: Erode (East) bypoll | Seeman booked for making remarks 'insulting' Scheduled Caste community people. The Hindu . 23 February 2023. 7 April 2023. www.thehindu.com.