Kamal Haasan agrees to mute Sounds, Now faces protests from Hindu, Christian organizations
February 4, 2013
Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam received relief in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, with the actor-director agreeing to mute certain sounds on the request of Muslim organizations.
However the visuals remain unchanged.
Says the beleaguered filmmaker, 'It's only some audio portions that are going to be muted. There will be no change in the visuals. So essentially the content remains the same in Tamil Nadu and the rest of the country. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I wouldn't want my Tamil audience to see a different film from the rest of the country. '
However the release date for Vishwaroopam in Tamil Nadu can only be decided after Monday when the ban on the film is officially lifted.
Says Kamal Haasan, 'Vishwaroopam is ready for release in Tamil Nadu. The matter is subjudice right now. Until the ban is officially lufted I can't decide on a release date.
I'll have to take back my petition from the Madras High Court challenging the state government's ban and also revoke my decision to take the matter to the Supreme Court. I've been asked to trust the government. And I am doing so. However I want the release to happen as soon as possible before other organizations decide to get upset with my film. '
Apparently some Hindu organizations have also found the film objectionable now.
Says Kamal, 'Yes, some Hindu organizations have also shown an interest in banning my film. And a Christian group has filed a PIL against my film claiming that one dialogue where a Hindu character says the Christian God was crucified while Hindu gods are dunked in water, is insulting to their religion. '
Taking a deep breath late on Saturday evening Kamasl Haasan said, 'Now do you really think I can make films in my home country? It's all turned into a farce. Kerala stood out in its determination to release the film. The neighbouring state Pondicherry must also be congratulated for opening my film soon after. '
Laughing at the new protests from non-Muslim section Kamal haasan says, ' I don't know whether the courts will be accept their protests. I'd request other potential protestors to wait until my next film, please. I've had enough protests for Vishwaroopam. '
Kamal laughs uproariously, 'Is there any sense to all of this? Some sections of the media said I had tears in my eyes when I spoke about my home being sold to pay loans incurred to make Vishwaroopam. Why would I cry for my home? If I've a home in the hearts of all my fans I am a king. Then I'll start building my palaces. If I've to cry it would be for the country. '
Interestingly Kamal Haasan's colleague Rajnikanth has offered to do a film free of cost to make up for the losses suffered by Vishwaroopam.
By Web Editor
Now, Christians turn the tables
Kumar Chellappan | CHENNAI
The movie Vishwaroopam may end up as a challenge to the adage that all's well that ends well. Though the representatives of various Muslim outfits including the militant Thowheed Jamaath expressed their satisfaction over Kamal Haasan's willingness to delete or mute certain scenes and withdraw his petition filed in the Madras High Court challenging the ban imposed on the film by the State Government, another trouble is brewing up for him.
Jeba Kumar George, a 28-year-old lawyer in Chennai has moved a petition in the Madras High Court pleading for a ban on Vishwaroopam as certain scenes in the movie hurt the religious sentiments of the Christians all over the world. The Union of India represented by the secretary to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, National Commission of Minorities and Tamil Nadu Government represented by the Chief Secretary has been listed as respondents by George in his petition. "This is no way related to the objections raised by Muslim organisations in Tamil Nadu. I filed the petition after watching the movie at Thiruvnanthapuram," George told The Pioneer.
"I state that several acts from the movie Vishwaroopam show large amount of violence including the cutting of the throat of a man being directly screened and such scenes would cause religious and racial hurt to many and in particular to the Christians and Muslims and thereby would also cause people to indulge in violent and terrorist activities and experiment dangerous experiments like making bombs by ordinary citizens," the lawyer says in his petition.
He has also charged that the verses from the movie Vishwaroopam attack the religious sentiments and beliefs of the Christian community in the world and particularly in India. "The movie violates Articles 14,15, 24, 25 and 29 of the Constitution as there is no equality before law and there is discrimination on the base of race and religion," George says in his petition.
The coming down of Kamal Haasan with the offer to remove scenes objected to by the Muslim community leaders prove once again that movie makers and writers are afraid to hurt the sentiments of organised religions. Radha Rajan, a social activist in Chennai pointed out that Haasan had refused to remove anti-Hindu references from his movies like Manmadhan Anbu. Leaders of 24 Muslim organisations had told reporters in Chennai on January 4 itself that they were upset over reports that the movie Vishwaroopam had anti-Islamic references in it.
"We don't want Kamal Hassan to waste time and money after the release of the movie to remove controversial scenes. It is better to have a preview by the community leaders who are better equipped to decide whether the scenes are anti-Islamic or not," Abdul Samad, TMMK leader, had told reporters on that day.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said on Thursday that the Home Secretary had told Haasan early January to sit together with the community leaders and sort out the issues amicably. But it took Haasan another three weeks to hold a preview for the community leaders. When they objected to certain scenes, he was unrelenting and told there was no question of him deleting any scenes or dialogues from the movie. Had Haasan been reasonable enough to convince the community leaders about his love and affection for them which he pontificates sitting in TV studios, the situation would not have been as bad as it is today.
BR Haran, political commentator said Haasan is a hypocrite who takes advantage of his being a Hindu to ridicule the Hindus while yielding to organised minorities like Muslims.
"Had he been above all religions as he claims, he should have shown guts and told a big No to those who wanted cuts in the movie. Otherwise he should stop speaking about freedom of expression and issuing threats like leaving India for a more secular country," said Haran.
Anupamaa
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