Jai Bhim has been considered by film critics as one of the most important socio-political Tamil movies to have come out in 2021, that unveiled the systemic injustices and cruelties that the communities marginalised by caste are subjected to in Tamil Nadu.
The plot is based on a real life incident from 1993 and the legal battle that followed after. In Jai Bhim, Rajakannu from the Irular tribe is wrongly accused of theft, arrested and beaten brutally, he finally dies in police custody. The police tries to cover up the truth which sets off his wife, Sengeni, on a quest for justice, with the aid of advocate Chandru. The film delves into the appalling treatment of people from the community, who are often framed by the police, subjected to torture and do not have even basic government documentations.
While Jai Bhim was appreciated widely, it has been mired in controversy. Actor Suriya Sivakumar was provided with police protection on 16 November, at his residence in Chennai's T Nagar following intel reports of threats.
Here is all that has happened since the release of the film: