Suriya asks fans not to engage with trolls amid raging fan-war culture in Kollywood: ‘Engage with fool, look like one’

At a fan meet Suriya urged his fans not to engage in fan wars on social media with trolls and fans of other stars. Here's what he said.

Actor Suriya is having a stellar year. He recently celebrated his 20th anniversary with Jyotika, with the couple renewing their vows in Scotland. After a dry spell, the actor also had two back-to-back hits with Karuppu and Vishwanath & Sons. Talking to fans at an event organised by the All India Suriya Fans Club, the actor seemed in a cheery mood as he asked them to spread love instead of engaging with ‘muttal’ (fools). (Also Read: Shiva Rajkumar was in ‘tears’ after watching Suriya's Vishwanath & Sons: ‘I couldn't sleep’)

Suriya urged his fans to concentrate on spreading love, instead of engaging with 'fools'.

Suriya asks fans not to engage with ‘fools’

A video circulating on social media from the event shows Suriya addressing fans from the stage. “Let us sow only love. When we engage just because some fool has made a post on social media, we end up looking like fools, too and getting hurt,” he said, adding, “Let us simply be ourselves, and let them be themselves; there is no need for us to say anything. Trying to make them understand or change their minds is difficult. Some might grasp it, but the vast majority won't. Don't waste your energy. Sincerely pursue what you love, day in and day out, and success will surely follow.”

Internet reacts to Suriya’s statement

Immediately, there were fans of other stars who assumed that Suriya was talking about them and calling them ‘fools’. Comments like, “Please. We have had this social media fight since Facebook. We can't stop hatred, but if you want to win people's hearts, even if he is your enemy, show your lovable side or ignore him. He will change. But don't call or stamp them as "muttal"; it's not maturity, sir,” filled X (formerly Twitter).

And then there were others who believed the ‘fools’ needed to be countered. “Counterpoint: You can't let a fools opinion go unchallenged. That is how you let him and any others know no one has a response to their "intelligence" and it multiples like cancer. You're asking to not just leave hero-sexuals alone but also misogynysts, misandrists, castesists to propagate their views,” read one comment.

Suriya’s fans, though, seemed to be having a ball. “If this triggers you, congratulations! You are the exact fool he’s calling out,” wrote one Redditor. “Throw an insult, and the owner picks it up,” wrote another. One even wrote, “You can wake up someone who is sleeping bro, but you will never be able to wake up someone who pretends to be sleeping. That’s the problem,” agreeing with Suriya.

The fan-war culture in Kollywood

It is not uncommon in Kollywood for fans of big stars to troll on social media whenever a movie by a perceived rival is released. Suriya has also often been preyed upon by this during movie releases, with trolls nitpicking everything from his promotional material. His fans usually come to his defence, something he has now asked them not to do.

Vijay and Ajith Kumar also put a stop to 3 decades of online and offline fan wars recently when the CM flagged off a Le Mans race. A video of the two hugging and being friendly shocked fans warring in their name. On the sidelines of a race in 2025, Ajith too told his fans, “Watch films. Everything is fine. But you know…Ajith vaazhga, Vijay vaazhga (long live Ajith, long live Vijay)… When are you going to live?” asking them to concentrate on other things instead.