Kamal Haasan agrees to edit Vishwaroopam; HC upholds ban
Posted on: 30 Jan 2013
Chennai: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has agreed to modify his film 'Vishwaroopam' following objections from certain Muslim organisations.
'My Muslim brothers have written and to me and we have settled amicably. I have agreed to modify some scenes. 'Vishwaroopam' is not an anti-Indian Muslim film, it is pro-Indian Muslim film,' he said.'There is no difference between me and my Muslim brothers. It is our duty to take care of them. There are four scenes that are being pointed out and I am willing to remove these scenes from the movie,' he added.
But, soon after his statement on a compromise with Muslim leaders, the Madras high court on Wednesday set aside a single judge order staying the government's prohibitory orders on film 'Vishwaroopam'. As a result, theatres cannot screen the film anywhere in Tamil Nadu..
Hearing the appeal made by the Tamil Nadu government against the single judge's order, a two-member high court bench set aside the former's order.
The high court bench chaired by Justice Dharma Rao has nullified the revocation of the ban on the film by Justice K. Venkataraman Tuesday.
'The film stays banned as of now and it can't be screened across Tamil Nadu,' Justice Dharma Rao said.
The court has asked the state government to submit its responses by Monday.
The Madras High Court Tuesday ruled in favour of 'Vishwaroopam' and revoked the ban by the state government. It, however, said the administrative step was to be taken by the government.
'Vishwaroopam' was due to release Jan 25, but was banned following objections from certain Muslim groups, who claimed that the film portrayed their community in a bad light. Apart from Tamil Nadu, the film was banned in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
The film written, produced and directed by Kamal, was banned by the state government after some Muslim groups complained that the film portrayed their community in a bad light. Apart from Tamil Nadu, the film was banned in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
Earlier, upset over the hurdles caused by the ban on the release of mega budget 'Vishwaroopam', an emotional Kamal Haasan today said Tamil Nadu does not want him to stay in the state and he might seek a 'secular' place in the country or overseas.
'When M F Hussain can do it, Kamal Haasan will do it... I am fed up. I am an artiste. After that, I will have to seek
a secular state for my stay... Secular state from Kashmir to Kerala, excluding Tamil Nadu... Tamil Nadu wants me out,' he
said in a choked voice as the fate of the movie is still to be decided in the court.
The actor said he had pledged all his property to make the trilingual movie, estimated to have cost around Rs 100
crore. He said he might lose his house because of the losses incurred by the delay in the release of the movie.
Haasan said he was still to get interim relief as the film shows were 'started and stopped' by police today, who
sought a physical copy of the single judge's order passed last night, giving clearance of the film.
'...But I believe that along with my Muslim friends, I have been instrument in a political game. I don't know who is
playing and not even hazarding the guess. The fact remains that my history has proven that I have been neither leaning to
the left or right but trying to maintain my position,' Haasan said.
He said he would wait for the judgement of the Madras High Court where the Tamil Nadu government today moved swiftly
to file an appeal against the interim relief given by the single judge.
'Now I shall wait for the afternoon judgement but after this... I think I will have to see a secular state for me to
stay in. I have nothing to lose. I might as well choose a place which would house an artiste like me.
'I will learn in another couple of days whether I will be able to find a secular state in India or not. I will find,
hopefully, another country which is secular that might take me in,' Haasan said. PTI
