Film body drops move to 'ban' Tamil actress Asin

Chennai, April 28 (IANS) Tamil actress Asin, facing a ban for not participating in a protest fast against the Hogenekkal issue, clarified Monday that she was not informed about the fast or she would certainly have attended.

Asin, who stars in Kamal Hassan's forthcoming film 'Dasavatharam', Monday gave her oral clarification to the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA) president Sarath Kumar. Her explanation has been accepted as a 'tangible explanation' and the matter dropped, Asin said.

'I was in Mumbai shooting for Aamir Khan's film and was not informed about the protest fast. I would have certainly participated if I had been informed. I have handed over my personal mobile number with Sarath to avoid future complications. This has been accepted as a tangible explanation and the matter has been amicably resolved,' Asin told reporters here.

SIAA had threatened to ban Asin Wednesday for her failure to turn up during the fast undertaken by leading lights of the Tamil film industry on April 4 to protest against Karnataka's opposition to the Rs.13.3 billion Hogenekkal Drinking Water Supply Project.

The Film Employees' Federation of South India (FEFSI), the premier outfit that controls the Tamil film industry, had expressed annoyance at Sarath Kumar's hijacking the Hogenekkal issue to the advantage of the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi - a political party headed by him.

'Dasavatharam' is scheduled to be released in May.