Tamil and Malayalam actor Rahman on 22 July publicly voiced support for students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling police action against them 'heartbreaking' and urging the government to choose dialogue over confrontation. The actor posted his appeal on Instagram, joining a growing chorus of South Indian film personalities speaking out on the CJP protest and the broader demand for accountability over NEET-UG examination irregularities.

What Rahman Said

In his Instagram post, Rahman wrote: 'When the protest at Jantar Mantar first began, I truly believed the government would step forward, listen to the students, and address their concerns. But as the days passed, watching the situation unfold became deeply painful.'

The actor directly questioned the Centre's decision to deploy police against student demonstrators. 'Seeing students being subjected to police action is heartbreaking. Why... why... why? Dear Government, was this really necessary? As someone in the public eye, I know my words can easily be misunderstood or my intentions misrepresented. But I speak today simply as a concerned citizen,' he wrote.

Rahman concluded with a direct appeal: 'Please, dear Government, let compassion prevail over confrontation. Listen before it's too late. Our students are not our enemies — they are India's future. They are like my children. They are our children.'

Actress Revathy Adds Her Voice

Actress Revathy Asha responded to Rahman's post with the words 'Questions need to be asked.' Actress Revathy separately published a lengthy statement on the same day, writing: '#cjpprotest #cjpprotestdelhi #cjp What is the ASK? … safeguard the future of the children, the future of our country by reforming the Educational System of our country — students are protesting in spite of being beaten, grown boys are crying thinking of what will happen to their future, women are in tears looking at the heartless violence their kids are facing, fathers are worried about their kids future, girls are begging to stop the violence inflicted on them…'

Revathy also called on elected leaders to engage: 'Leaders we voted, entrusting in them the future of our children and our country, are silent. Hear them out, have a dialogue, agree to disagree but sit down and talk… They deserve to be heard… with Sonam Wangchuk and every student in the protest!!!'

Background: The CJP Protest and Police Action

The demonstrations at Jantar Mantar are centred on demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurring examination irregularities, most notably the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. On Monday, police lathicharged thousands of CJP supporters and students who had marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups. The incident has since triggered a wider public debate about the state's response to student-led demonstrations.

Why It Matters

The intervention of prominent film personalities from Tamil Nadu and Kerala amplifies national attention on a protest that began as a regional education-sector grievance. Notably, this is not the first time South Indian cinema figures have weighed in on national policy debates — but the directness of Rahman's and Revathy's appeals, addressed personally to the government, signals a sharper edge to celebrity advocacy. The CJP protest comes amid sustained scrutiny of examination conduct bodies, and the lathicharge has become a focal point for critics who argue that the Centre is suppressing legitimate dissent rather than addressing structural failures in the education system.

Whether the government will respond to calls for dialogue — from students, civil society, or public figures — remains to be seen.