Jayalalithaa asks Kamal Hassan make a deal with Muslim leaders
Bollywood film actor, producer and director Kamal Hassan addressing a press conference on the controversy surrounding his new film Vishwaroopam in Mumbai, yesterday.
Chennai / Mumbai: A day before the Hindi version is scheduled for release Vishwaroopam, actor and producer Kamal Hassan yesterday thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa after she explained in detail why a ban was imposed 15 days in the spy thriller.
The versatile actor told reporters that although he was angry when he threatened on Wednesday to leave India undoubtedly leave the country if similar protests wrapped his films.
Chandra Hassan Kamal Hassan Brother and Tamil film director Ameer Sultan meanwhile met with Muslim leaders in Chennai, a day after Kamal Hassan pledged to cut parts of the film Tamil-Telugu critics say represent the community with low light. There was a glimmer of hope for the release of the movie `950 million in Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa made it clear that only Vishwaroopam was banned for fear of violent protests, not resentment against the actor and producer Kamal Hassan.
"I have no personal grudge, no personal interest in banning the film," the actor-turned-chief minister, adding that he knew nothing about the film until it became controversial.
Impacted by the statistics, said it would have been impossible to provide police protection to the 524 theaters in Tamil Nadu, where the multilingual film would be released on January 25 after Muslims announced a wave of protests. She said her government could have banned the film altogether, but only banned for 15 days for that tempers could cool and both Kamal Hassan and Muslim groups to reach an agreement.
He said there was also forbidden in Qatar, UAE, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. "I'm responsible for all this?" She said that Muslim leaders had said they were willing to accept the film as Kamal Hassan had now agreed to remove some parts they found objectionable for religious reasons.
"If the Muslim leaders and Kamal Hassan come to an amicable agreement, the government will do everything possible to facilitate ... and the cover will be cleared for the screening of the film".
Kamal Hassan has written, produced and directed the film and also appears in the title role in Vishwaroopam, which revolves around a plot by Al Qaeda and an Indian couple in the U.S.. But Prime Minister found fault with Kamal Hassan for not showing the movie from beginning to Muslim critics.? IANS
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Breaking his silence on the controversy over the banning of 'Vishwaroopam' Tamil movie, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said on Thursday that his government was
willing to help resolve the crisis if Muslim attire and actor Kamal Haasan could negotiate a settlement. Coming
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under complete attack on the two-week suspension imposed following protests by Muslim outfits, Jayalalithaa defended the government's decision, saying it was based on inputs of information on violence and likely to maintain law and order.
Making it clear that he had "personal grudge" against Haasan or "personal interest" in banning the film, she said there was no question of curbing freedom of expression.
"Even at this stage, if Muslim organizations and Kamal Haasan are willing to sit down and reach an amicable agreement, the government of Tamil Nadu is willing to provide that," he said after meeting with senior officials.
Directly blaming the actor for the events, Jayalalithaa said: "If Kamal Haasan Muslim leaders had shown the film at first, all of this could have been avoided."
The prime minister said that in recent days, there have been lots of "hysteria" whipped up in the media about 'Vishwaroopam "and" reckless "and" wild allegations "had been leveled.
She said the threat to law and order was "very real" and that many Muslim outfits had announced a series of agitations. The government's main objective was to maintain peace and tranquility. "We rely on intelligence inputs," he said.
"As chief minister of Tamil Nadu, my first and foremost priority is the maintenance of law and order and public peace in which people can continue with their daily life and work," Jayalalithaa said, citing insufficient to ensure police security around 524 cinemas where the film would be
screening.
Staff Jayalalithaa said 31,440 police would have been necessary for safety in 524 cinemas in three innings, while only 9226 agents were available after making provision for the maintenance of public order and other requirements.
"How is it possible in practice by the state government to provide protection to 524 theaters and maintain law and order, when we have adequate manpower," she said, explaining the reason for the prohibition of the government, which has been in the firing line of personalities in different fields of
life, and actor Kamal Haasan even dubbing as "cultural terrorism".
"It is only in this spirit we come ....." he said. Jayalalithaa also rejected claims that his "personal reasons" were behind the ban following allegations that the action was taken because the actor refused to give TV rights for Jaya TV.
"Jaya TV is a channel that supports AIADMK. Jaya TV does not belong to me. I am not in any way associated with his administration. I have nothing to do with Jaya TV. I do not hold shares (him)", is said.
Dismissing the allegations as "wild" and "reckless", she said the government would have to take legal action against those that directed against a constitutional authority responsible.
Jayalalithaa remarks come in the wake of his arch rival DMK chief M Karunanidhi citing reports suggesting that a TV channel near AIADMK wanted to buy the movie, but the producers refused saying they had spent more than Rs. 100 crore.
He also ridiculed the charge that she bore a grudge Haasan for his statement in a function call for a "dhoti dress Tamilian" to become prime minister, in an apparent reference to P Chidambaram.
"Why should I take offense to such statements? Kamal Haasan is free to express their views. If you want a person dressed in dhoti to become the Prime Minister, who is his own point of view. Kamal Haasan not select the first Minister ..... "
Jayalalithaa said there was no law and order problems in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, where the film has been released and has been banned in several countries, including Malaysia, UAE and Singapore.
"I know nothing about Vishwaroopam" he said, adding that he was not interested in any more movies
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