It is a common misconception that the antagonist’s actions in 2.0 (Enthiran 2) were about electronic waste. In reality, Director Shankar used the character Pakshi Rajan (played by Akshay Kumar) as a vehicle for a very specific—and controversial—message regarding electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and its impact on bird populations.
Here is the breakdown of why the phones were being “hacked” and collected:
1. The Core Theme: Radiation, Not Waste
The film’s central conflict is not about discarded phones (e-waste), but about the active usage of mobile phones. Pakshi Rajan, a passionate ornithologist, believes that the high-frequency radiation emitted by cell towers and mobile devices is responsible for the mass death of birds, particularly sparrows.
* The “Outcry”: The character’s motivation is driven by his failure to convince the government and telecom companies to lower radiation levels. After his death, his “aura” (combined with the spirits of dead birds) seeks to take away the source of the problem: the phones themselves.
2. Why the “Hacking” Happened
In the movie, Pakshi Rajan uses a form of “electromagnetic technopathy” to control millions of mobile phones. He gathers them to create massive, bird-like structures to:
* Neutralize the Source: By physically removing phones from the hands of the public, he effectively shuts down the network he blames for the “avian genocide.”
* Weaponize Technology: He uses the phones’ own radiation and physical mass to attack the infrastructure (towers) and the people he holds responsible.
3. Real-World Inspiration & Controversy
Director Shankar often uses his films to highlight social or environmental issues. However, 2.0 faced significant pushback:
* Scientific Criticism: Many scientists and environmentalists pointed out that there is no conclusive peer-reviewed evidence linking standard cellular radiation to mass bird deaths. The film was criticized for promoting “pseudo-science” or “technophobia.”
* The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI): They actually filed a complaint against the film, alleging it depicted mobile phones and towers in a “defamatory” and “false” manner that could create unnecessary public fear.
4. Was E-Waste Mentioned?
While bioremediation and biological waste management are interests of yours in a professional and academic sense, the film largely ignores the physical disposal of electronics. It focuses almost entirely on the “invisible” threat of radiation.
Summary Table: The Movie’s Message
| Feature | Film’s Depiction | Scientific Reality |
| :— | :— | :— |
| Main Villain’s Goal | Stop bird deaths from 4G/5G radiation. | Species decline is usually linked to habitat loss and pesticides. |
| Why phones fly? | Supernatural control over electromagnetic waves. | Impossible; phones do not have the hardware to “fly” together. |
| The Moral | “The world is not only for humans.” | Balanced tech growth is needed, but radiation limits are already strictly regulated. |