Explained: Why did Trisha criticize director Parthiban amid Vijay-Sangeetha’s divorce controversy?
Actress Trisha Krishnan recently responded strongly to director R Parthiban’s dig at her at an award show. In this excerpt, we explain the context behind the controversy and what led to their confrontation that played out so publicly.
Actress Trisha Krishnan has been in the headlines for the past few weeks due to controversies related to her personal life. Tamil actors were in the grip of a fresh storm over the weekend, this time due to an incident involving actor-director R Parthiban.
Parthiban is known for his sarcastic one-liners in almost every programme. Recently at an awards ceremony, he made a comment that turned into a viral debate about professionalism, public dignity and the intense scrutiny surrounding the personal lives of actors.
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Trigger: Parthiban’s distasteful stage comment
It all started at an awards show organized by a popular Tamil media house where director-actor R Parthiban was the guest. Trisha did not participate in the program. On the show, Parthiban was asked to comment on the various actors with whom he worked in the rapid-fire round. When a picture of Trisha was shown on the screen, Parthiban chose to respond with a controversial play on words associated with his character, Kundavai, in the blockbuster film. Ponniyin Selvan Franchise.
Parthiban commented in Tamil, “Indha Kundavaye Konjennaram Kunthavaikkirathu Nallathu,” which translates as: “It is better to ask this Kundavai to sit at home for a while.”
He didn’t just stop at the play on words, he further added that it would be better if he refrained from going out in public as his recent appearance is “creating a lot of issues”.
The “issues” he mentioned were not professional but extremely personal, indirectly referring to the ongoing frenzy over Trisha and actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay.
Trisha clapped: stupidity intensified
The controversy reached its peak when Trisha issued a sharp, albeit dignified, response to the comment she made at a recent event in Chennai. The actress expressed her disappointment and anger at those who speak “crude words” using a public platform without proper context or information.
In her post, Trisha revealed that she was informed by the event organizers that her name and image were added to the program at the last hour, specifically at the request of a person through her assistant. Without naming Parthiban directly, he sharply criticized his conduct:
“The microphone does not make a comment intelligent or humorous. It only makes the stupidity more intense. Rude words without information say more about the speaker than the person at whom they are aimed.”
Parthiban’s apology and its consequences
Following Trisha’s public rebuke and the subsequent reaction from internet users, Parthiban immediately issued an apology by sharing a voice note. Acknowledging that his attempt at humor missed the mark and caused real offense, he posted a brief note of regret on social media, saying, “What happened… is everything that went wrong. There is no way out but to repent!”
In the voice note he claimed that he had committed the mistake unknowingly. In a YouTube video titled Kundhagam (English hindrance or harm), he said, as he answered 20 questions asked without much thought during the rapid-fire round.
“When Trisha’s picture flashed on the screen, I paused. The fans present at the venue started shouting Kundavai and I used that opportunity to use my word-play skills. When I said, ‘Indha Kundavaye Konjennaram Kunthavaikkirathu Nallathu‘The fans applauded and most of them were Vijay fans,’ he said.
After this he remembered the conversation that took place as soon as he came down from the stage. She said that she requested the organizers to cut the clip related to Trisha, but fans shared it on social media.
Parthiban claimed that his comments were hurtful, and expressed regret. “I don’t like it when problems become big. Whenever I go to colleges (as chief guest), I talk about women’s freedom,” he said.
She said, “I believe that, whether it is a man or a woman, any person should be able to be free from unnecessary restrictions and should be able to divorce (whatever is restricting them), and should be able to live life happily. Therefore, I believe that a woman is the greatest force in the universe with creative powers.”
Previous Story: Trisha, Vijay and the wedding reception
A few days before Parthiban’s comments, Trisha and Vijay were seen attending a high-profile wedding reception together in Chennai, creating a stir over their alleged relationship. The two reached the venue in the same vehicle, posed for photographs with each other and left together.
While the two have been working together regularly on screen, their appearance together has sparked rumors. This public outing became the focus of intense media speculation, as it coincided with another important aspect of Vijay’s personal life – his divorce case with wife Sangeetha Sornalingam.
Catalyst: Sangeeta’s divorce petition
Vijay and Trisha’s public appearance came days after the actor-politician’s wife Sangeeta Sornalingam filed for divorce. The petition, which is reportedly scheduled to be heard in April 2026, cites “persistent mental cruelty, neglect and abandonment.”
Importantly, the petition included claims of Vijay being involved in an extramarital affair with a female actor. Although no names were officially mentioned in the legal filings, the timing of Trisha-Vijay’s public appearance led many in the media and public to jump to conclusions.
It was this specific, sensitive environment that Parthiban chose to use for “joking” on stage, leading to allegations that his comments were insensitive and unprofessional.
Vijay addressed his supporters at a later event, urging them not to be “hurt” by “recent problems” and promising to “take care of them all”. Trisha has maintained silence on divorce rumours. His response to the Parthiban incident served as a firm boundary-setting exercise, which he had done earlier also.