Describing the Kalaignar Nagar, where 15,000 houses will be built on government- assigned land for film employees, as a testimony to his unbreakable bond with the film industry, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Sunday said his relationship with cinema will continue forever.

Addressing a function organised to lay foundation stone for Kalaignar Nagar on 96 acres in Paiyanur, he said criticism of his family members’ foray into the film world came from narrow-minded sections who could not appreciate his work for the welfare of Dravidians.

Reacting to a cartoon in a Tamil daily criticising the entry of his grandsons and grand nephews into film production, distribution and acting, Karunanidhi asked whether a ‘Kalaignar’ should not have his grandsons or grand daughters entering the film world.

Karunanidhi, while referring to Superstar Rajnikanth's daugthers and son-in-law Dhanush entering the film world, also recalled the case of the sons of yesteryear Bollywood legend Prithivraj Kapoor entering the film world and becoming prominent personalities.

"They leave out Rajini and target me because Rajini is not in politics and I am in public life", Karunanidhi said, adding for him politics and films were close to his heart. "Nobody can break this relationship which was built over several years. And to prevent it, we are erecting a strong wall in the form of 15,000 housing units for the artistes of the Tamil film industry", he added.

The Chief Minister said it always made him sad that the workers, who created big sets like bungalows and bridges for the films, never had a proper roof over their head. "I am proud that the DMK government had fulfilled all the demands of the workers including a housing scheme".

He also recalled the measures taken by the DMK government to reduce the fee for outdoor shooting in the State. As regards the fee for shooting in Rajaji Hall, the amount was reduced to Rs 25,000 from Rs one lakh fixed by the AIADMK regime in 2003.

Others who took part in the function were Superstar Rajinikanth, Malayalam actor Mammooty, Bollywood veteran Jitendra, ace filmmaker K Balachander, TFPC president Rama Narayanan, FEFSI chief V C Guhanathan, Nadigar Sangam president Sarath Kumar and Telugu veteran director Dasari Narayana Rao.

Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Ministers A Raja and S Jagathrakshakan, State Ministers Durai Murugan, K Ponmudy and Parithi Illamvazhuthi and Kancheepuram district Collector Santosh Mishra were also present.