Hence, it is their responsibility to become more sensitive. People with disabilities are reaching for nothing lesser than the stars. But now, just like people with no disabilities, they have proved how capable they are. You would see them begging in front of temples or streets.

Thirty years back, blind people did not have any education or employment opportunities. It is quite unfortunate that Star Vijay had to do something like that. Madhu Singhal, who is visually impaired, says this serial is regressive and shows attitudes that used to exist years ago. They are waiting for the serial to come out to get a real picture. I spoke to a few activists from Tamil Nadu.

Since they have a hero on wheelchair, they could have consulted disability rights activist in Chennai to get a better insight about what is sensitive for the disabled community. But at the same time, I’am not justifying what Star Vijay did. Personally, I feel this is the term that many people amongst us call a disabled person. Media usually highlights what society has to say. Jomy is a wheelchair user and disability rights activist who has been closely working with the Kerala government. The hero in the serial is apparently a successful person, who is supported by the heroine after marriage. Worried about this feedback, Star Vijay has issued a statement that the term was not meant to hurt anyone. It’s also shows how widely prevalent biases about disabled people continue to be. At a time when people with disabilities are showing the world the amazing things they can do, this regressive portrayal is clearly out of touch with the times.

The serial is about a young woman who is forced to marry a wheelchair user and how terrible her life becomes after marriage. This is getting the serial plenty of attention, but not of the positive kind. In the video, a man on a wheelchair has been termed a otta kaalan, which means one-legged person. The promo for their upcoming serial Aranmanai Kili recently went on air. Popular Tamil channel Star Vijay is getting some criticism from many in the disabled community.

Aranmanai kili vijay tv serial promo