Kamal agrees to edit 'Vishwaroopam'; to release soon

After talks with Muslim groups Saturday, Kamal Haasan has agreed to cut some scenes from his controversial film "Vishwaroopam".

The film will be released as soon as Tamil Nadu government withdraws its prohibitory order.

"I've arrived at a consensus with my Muslim brothers. We've agreed to cut some scenes from the film which they found to be objectionable," Kamal Haasan, who produced the film and acted in it, told reporters here.

"I'll announce the release date of the film soon. We've also withdrawn our written petition and expect the same from the government," he added.

Kamal Haasan joined the formal tripartite talks on Saturday with Muslim groups to end the ban on his mega-budget multilingual film "Vishwaroopam".

The talks, which were scheduled Friday, were called off because Muslim organisations wanted Kamal Haasan to be present.

Muslim leaders had met Tamil filmmaker Ameer Sultan and Chandra Haasan, Kamal Haasan's brother and his partner in production company Raj Kamal Films International Jan 31.

"We've submitted letters to the government requesting it to oversee talks between Raj Kamal Films International and (Muslim) leaders," Chandra Haasan said Thursday.

The preliminary talks between both parties Friday were moderated by Tamil Nadu Home Secretary R. Rajagopal.

Both sides agreed to meet after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said her government would help Kamal Haasan release the film if he reaches a pact with the protestors.

The Rs.95 crore espionage thriller was set for release in Tamil and Telugu Jan 25, but a day earlier the Tamil Nadu government imposed a two-week ban on it fearing protests by Muslim groups.

The film's Hindi version released Feb 1 across the country.

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Ban on 'Vishwaroopam' lifted in Tamil Nadu

A day after Kamal Haasan and Muslim organisations called a truce over the actor-filmmaker's controversial film "Vishwaroopam", the ban on the screening of the espionage thriller in Tamil Nadu was revoked Sunday.

Kamal is likely to announce the fresh release date in the state soon.

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

Kamal joined a formal tripartite talks Saturday with Muslim groups to end the ban on his mega-budget multilingual film "Vishwaroopam". Following the talks in the presence of Tamil Nadu Home Secretary R. Rajagopal, he agreed to edit seven scenes from his film.

"I'll announce the release date of the film soon. We've also withdrawn our written petition and expect the same from the government," Kamal had said Saturday.

The Rs.95 crore thriller "Vishwaroopam" was set for release in Tamil and Telugu Jan 25, but a day before the release the Tamil Nadu government imposed a two-week ban on it fearing protests by Muslim groups.

The film's Hindi version released Feb 1 across the country and got positive reviews.

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Jayalalithaa defends 'Vishwaroopam' ban, to sue Karunanidhi

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Thursday that Kamal Haasan's movie "Vishwaroopam" was banned in Tamil Nadu due to real fears of violent protests and that she had no grudge against the actor.

The chief minister also announced that she would file criminal cases against DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and sections of the media that she said had maligned her on the issue.

Reeling out statistics, she said it would have been impossible to provide police protection to all 524 cinemas in Tamil Nadu where the multilingual film was to be released after Muslim groups announced a wave of protests.

"I have no personal grudge, no personal interest in banning the movie," the actor-turned-politician told the media, adding she knew nothing about the Rs.95 crore espionage thriller until it became controversial.

She said her government had the powers to ban a movie completely but it banned it only for 15 days so that tempers could cool down and both Kamal Haasan and Muslim groups could reach an agreement.

To make it clear that her government's decision was not without basis, Jayalalithaa pointed out that the movie had also been also banned in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.

It was also banned in states neighbouring Tamil Nadu. "Was I responsible for all that?"

The chief minister said Muslim leaders had told her that they were ready to accept the movie now as Kamal Haasan had agreed to delete some portions they had found objectionable on religious grounds.

"If the leaders of Muslim organisations and Kamal Haasan can sit together and work out an amicable agreement, the government will do everything possible to facilitate that ... and the deck will be cleared for screening the movie.

"There is no question of curbing the freedom of speech."

Jayalalithaa insisted that her critics were "totally unaware of the sheer logistics of administration and maintenance of law and order".

She said if the movie had been released and generated violence, the same people now clamouring for the film would have denounced her.

She said that while the total effective strength of the Tamil Nadu Police was 91,807 inclusive of special units, guarding 524 cinemas in a surcharged atmosphere would have required 56,440 personnel.

"This is not possible, not sensible, not practicable. The sensible way is to prevent violence... It is only in that spirit that we approached the release of the film."

She denied speculation that Kamal Haasan's troubles began after he reportedly refused to sell the movie rights to Jaya TV, which supports her AIADMK party.

"This is a wild reckless charge against a constitutional authority. We will have to take legal action..."

She targeted Karunanidhi for alleging that she wrote a letter in the 1980s against Kamal Haasan to then chief minister M.G. Ramachandran or MGR.

Jayalalithaa said there was no need for her to write to MGR when she used to meet him almost daily.

"(This is) a wild fictitious story. We will be instituting legal proceedings against Karunanidhi and against all newspapers which published this charge."

The chief minister said initially Kamal Haasan was not ready to make even a single cut in "Vishwaroopam". He also delayed showing the movie to Muslim leaders. Had he done so, the situation would not have come to such a pass.

Kamal Haasan has written, produced and directed the movie and also features in the title role in "Vishwaroopam", which revolves around an Al Qaeda plot and an Indian couple in the US.

It has been made in Tamil and Telugu. The Hindi version, "Vishwaroop", is set for release Friday.

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