Hasaan’s Vishwaroopam becomes “controversial”

Actor-director felt his film was being singled out for no reason.

MUMBAI:

The controversy regarding Kamal Hasaan’s Tamil-Telugu film Vishwaroopam is coming to a peaceful end as its date of release in Tamil Nadu has finally been set — February 7. The film has faced numerous obstacles, but Hasaan has tried to keep it together.

At a point, he threatened to leave India if similar protests continued to surround his films then later realised he might have gone overboard. “In anger and in an emotional outburst I had said I would leave this country,” he confessed. “But yes, if this happens again, I will seriously leave. I was angry when I spoke earlier and I am still angry.”

The film’s Hindi version released February 1 across the country and raked in INR75.6 million in its opening weekend. “Salman [Khan] liked it immensely. He thinks it is of Hollywood standards. He liked everything about it,” said Hasaan.

The film has been written, produced and directed by Hasaan. Below is a gist of what happened over the weekend:

Saturday — Vishwaroopam edited

After talks with Muslim groups on Saturday, Hasaan revealed that he agreed to cut some scenes from Vishwaroopam — a film which has been described as controversial in India.

“I’ve arrived at consensus with my Muslim brothers. We’ve agreed to cut some scenes from the film which they found to be objectionable,” Hasaan said.

Following the talks in the presence of Tamil Nadu Home Secretary R Rajagopal, he agreed to edit seven scenes from his film.

Sunday — ban on Vishwaroopam lifted in Tamil Nadu

On Sunday, a day after Hasaan and Muslim organisations called a truce over the actor-film-maker’s film, the ban on the screening of the espionage thriller in Tamil Nadu was revoked.

“The two-week ban imposed by the district collector has been removed, paving way to a successful release of the film across Tamil Nadu,” a government source told IANS.

“We’ve also withdrawn our written petition and expect the same from the government,” Hasaan said.

Monday — announcement of film’s release date in Tamil Nadu

On Monday, a day after the two-week ban was revoked on the film, Hasaan announced that his film will hit theatres February 7.

“The film will release all over Tamil Nadu on Thursday, February 7,” said Kamal in a statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2013.

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