Opposition slams prevention of movie's Madurai release

Chennai, Sep 27 (IANS) The Communist Party of India (CPI) and actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar Saturday slammed the alleged prevention of the release of a movie produced by Maran brothers in southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

'The interference in the dissemination of creative expression is morally and politically wrong and deserves to be condemned. The government should immediately restore parity to uphold democratic norms,' CPI state secretary D. Pandian told reporters.

'This calculated organised repression against the free media is abominable,' said Sarath Kumar, who heads a regional political party.

Sun Pictures, a company owned by the estranged grand-nephews of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, alleged Friday that anti-social elements reportedly sent by the leader's elder son M.K. Azhagiri had prevented the release of their maiden movie 'Kaadalil Vizhunthen' in nine cinema halls in Madurai.

The movie's director P.V. Prasad said it was unfortunate that this was happening during the rule of a chief minister who owed his political career to filmdom.

'If this effort on the part of Azhagiri's rowdyism results in the denial of audiences' opportunity to see my movie in Madurai, it will be a black mark in the political career of chief minister Kalaignar (as Karunanidhi is popularly known) who owes his fame to Tamil filmdom,' Prasad said.

The state government denied the charge saying a film could not be prevented from release by anyone in the state.

Police protection to ensure the release will be accorded if applied for, officials said.