Chennai: The appointment of Archana Kalpathi Aghoram, creative producer of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s films Bigil and The Greatest of All Time, as a member of a state-level committee has raised eyebrows in political circles.
Archana, who is CEO of AGS Entertainment, will be part of a seven-member reconstituted panel under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. This panel will shortlist applicants for appointment as non-hereditary trustees of temples with annual incomes exceeding Rs 10 lakh. The order for her appointment was issued by HR&CE Secretary J. Kumaragurubaran.
Critics have questioned a film producer’s domain expertise in temple administration, religious endowments, or the legal and customary nuances of trustee selection.
AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister R. B. Udhayakumar told media persons, “If government posts are given only to those who have made films with Vijay, how is this democracy?”
He added that people close to the CM have been appointed as government advisers (possibly referring to Vijay’s close aide Vishnu Reddy and political strategist John Arokiasamy), and sarcastically asked whether actor Trisha would be appointed deputy CM next.
This is not the first time Vijay has faced such criticism. In May, Vijay’s astrologer Radhan Pandit was appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the CM. The appointment was later recalled amid massive backlash.
In June, Bengaluru-based businessman K Venkata Narayana, who produced Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, was appointed as the Tamil Nadu government’s Special Representative in New Delhi. The move too triggered a sharp political backlash and Opposition attacks over qualification, conflict of interest, and non-Tamil Nadu roots.
HR&CE Minister S. Ramesh defended Archana’s appointment. “If one looks at Archana Kalpathi’s appointment merely as that of a film producer, it will appear wrong and the question will arise as to why she got this post. But Archana Kalpathi has undertaken renovation (thiruppani) works in more than 10 temples. Her father-in-law Srinivasan has spent several crores on temple renovation works. The responsibility given to Archana will serve as an encouragement to those who come forward to undertake temple renovation works.”
From entrepreneur to govt role
Archana Kalpathi is the daughter of Kalpathi S. Aghoram, who with his brothers built AGS Entertainment and the associated multiplex chain AGS Cinemas. The Kalpathis, an entrepreneur family, also saw earlier success in software education and training.
Archana holds an engineering degree from College of Engineering, Guindy, and got her Master’s degree in Computer Science with Management Studies at the State University of New York.
Archana joined the family business around 2006, initially focusing on cinema exhibition before moving to movie production. She took up the role CEO/creative producer of AGS Entertainment later and is also a non-executive director of Veranda Learning Solutions.
She has worked as creative producer for Vijay’s films Bigil and GOAT. She was also the producer for the actor Pradeep Ranganathan-starrer AGS projects Love Today and Dragon. Archana has maintained a relatively low public profile outside entertainment industry circles until recent appointments.
Who else is in this committee
The committee’s two-year term took effect from 24 July following the expiry of the previous panel’s tenure. It is headed by Thavathiru Sivagnana Balaya Swamigal of Bommapuram Adheenam, Mayilam, with retired District and Sessions Judge Dr K. Ramanathan as deputy chairman and vice-chairperson.
Other members include retired IAS officer P.R. Sampath, spiritual speaker M. Sumathi, and playback singer Dr T. Velmurugan. The HR&CE Commissioner serves as ex-officio member and secretary.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)