Images

Indian film buffs are stealing milk and pouring it on movie posters for good luck

Indian film buffs are stealing milk and pouring it on movie posters for good luck

A reported theft of nearly 10,000 litres (2,600 US gallons) of milk in two days has Indian dairy traders pretty mad
25 Jan, 2019

Indian dairy traders have lodged a police complaint after cinema fans stole huge amounts of milk to pour on film posters for an upcoming movie to bring it good luck.

"Paal abhishekam" is a Hindu religious practice involving pouring milk on the idols of deities.

But film buffs often perform the same ritual on huge cut-outs and posters of actors, particularly in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu where temples dedicated to film stars are not uncommon.

Actor Silambarasan took it to a new level, however, with a recent video message asking fans to splash not just cartons but barrels of milk on posters for his new film, releasing February 1.

As his message went viral, milk traders started to report large losses due to theft.

"Such appeals would misguide the youth and create a law and order problem in the state," said S.A. Ponnusamy, president of the Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers Employees Welfare Association.

The association has reported theft of nearly 10,000 litres (2,600 US gallons) of milk in two days across the state this week.

The custom is particularly pronounced for Rajinikanth, a former bus conductor who became the biggest star in the history of Tamil-language cinema.

He was widely credited for almost single-handedly defeating a state government in 1996 by asking his fans days before the election to vote it out.

Ponnusamy has been campaigning against the wasteful practice for many years, even reaching out to the film stars themselves.

"This has been going on for 20 years... People consider celebrities as demigods here," he added.

Comments

Gordon D. Walker Jan 25, 2019 06:20pm
What? Gordon D. Walker Canada
Recommend (0)
Shame Jan 25, 2019 06:33pm
And they want to be super power!
Recommend (0)
kp Jan 25, 2019 06:54pm
Crazy south indians for Rajanikantha
Recommend (0)
gomathi swaminathan Jan 25, 2019 07:30pm
This madness is not happening in all over India, it is only one state Tamil Nadu where literally rate is high compare to other states.
Recommend (0)
Amer Jan 25, 2019 07:54pm
No wonder why the population is so poor.
Recommend (0)
Ishika Jan 25, 2019 08:57pm
That is why its known as Incredible India.
Recommend (0)
Pankaj Jan 25, 2019 08:57pm
Die hard fans of Rajnikant.
Recommend (0)
Rajesh Jan 25, 2019 09:22pm
Rajini is a real life hero.
Recommend (0)
Jitendra Jan 25, 2019 10:13pm
@Shame - it's down south in India, where people are totally filmy. The while society is FILMY.
Recommend (0)
shahul Jan 25, 2019 10:25pm
@gomathi swaminathan when comparing to Kerala literacy rate is low
Recommend (0)
RAja Raman Jan 26, 2019 12:42am
Height of madness by Rajinikanth fans.
Recommend (0)
Mennower Akhter Jan 26, 2019 01:27pm
What a shame, if you have to do it then why not do it the most beautiful way by giving the milk to the needy and ask them to pray for good luck instead off wasting it to the ground
Recommend (0)
Swiss Neutral Jan 26, 2019 02:02pm
Stealing milk is a crime. Pouring milk is stupidity
Recommend (0)