Nadigar Sangam President, Sarathkumar was in Madurai yesterday to speak to a the drama artistes and members of the Nadigar Sangam and explain his stance in the ongoing controversy. Today morning actors Karthi, Vishal, Karunaas, Ponvannan and Nasser were in Madurai to campaign for their side. Here are excerpts from their speeches at the Madurai Nadaga Nadigar Sangam situated on Sunnaambukara Street.

Actor Karunaas in his speech said that two decades back, he was roaming the streets of Madurai doing mimicry shows and also used to buy tea and snacks for the drama actors to beg for side roles and only with that experience he made it big in Tamil Cinema. Karunaas also shared with all that legendary actor T.R. Mahalingam constituted the Nadigar Sangam after being moved by an incident where the last rites of a stage actor from Madurai was conducted by begging from the public. Karunaas said that the present office bearers have completely distanced themselves from these members and the new team will make sure their lives will be uplifted.

Nasser said that in his hometown there were more street plays than stage plays and that he has immense respect for both these forms of art and that no film actor can match the skills of the stage actors and while the film actors enjoy such exorbitant lifestyles the stage actors are in poverty and all of them (Karthi, Vishal and co) have joined together for the future of these underprivileged.

Vishal in his speech said that none of his team members have ambitions for any high post and the only aim is to uplift the members of the Nadigar Sangam and also promised that they will aide in the construction of a new Stage Actors Association building.