Ajith Kumar on Karur Stampede: Calls tragedy a collective failure
Ajith Kumar has offered his candid and reflective take on the tragic Karur stampede, which claimed 39 lives at a recent political rally.
In a major interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor called the incident a “collective failure,” emphasizing that accountability should not rest on a single individual.
“That individual alone is not responsible. We are all responsible for it, and the media has a part to play in this,” Ajith stated, making an implicit reference to the high-profile nature of the rally.
The actor pointed to a wider societal issue: an “obsession with gathering a crowd to show their clout.” He questioned why such fatal incidents are prevalent only around film personalities, arguing that they unfairly project a bad light on the entire film industry.
Ajith stressed that the tragedy is a “collective failure,” involving not just the organizers but also the media and the public’s prevailing culture of mass gatherings.
While acknowledging the love and sacrifices actors make for their fans, he called for a more measured way for people to express their admiration, cautioning against excessive hero-worship.
The actor advised against encouraging practices like massive crowd mobilization for events and even suggested that the media should not promote “First-Day-First-Shows (FDFS)” which often lead to large, unmanageable crowds.