But the controversial film opens to positive reviews worldwide
The ban on actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan’s magnum opus Vishwaroopam threatened to spread from Tamil Nadu to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on Friday, even while it ran in several screens in the smaller towns of Kerala.
In Kerala, screening was stopped in several centres in the evening following protests. In Hyderabad, the morning screenings were not disturbed, but subsequent shows were interrupted. In Karnataka, distributors said the release had been put off until Sunday.
Authorities in Hyderabad hinted that the movie might be allowed to release on Saturday. The reasons given for the postponement vary from ensuring safety during the Milad un-Nabi celebrations to security arrangements for the Republic Day.
Theatre owners from three states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh — who had already sold tickets to the movie via advance bookings — started refunding the tickets to the audience.
At the global level, the film opened in a record number of theatres in the United States and Malaysia, even while authorities in Sri Lanka ordered that the release be held back and called for a review by censors.
The first flush of reviews and opinions on social networks — most notably in Twitter where the movie has been trending over the past few days — has been overwhelmingly positive, and the popular opinion seems to be that the movie does not denigrate any religious minority. The star’s fans were left agitated, and they argued especially in online forums, on how they had been robbed of the opportunity to watch the ‘first day, first show’ of a film that has already been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification.
The national award-winning actor, who is currently in the U.S. where the Hindi and the Tamil versions premiered, found a major supporter in the Tamil film industry in ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth, who appealed to his “Muslim brothers” to drop their demand for a complete ban on the movie, and instead hold talks with Mr. Haasan upon his return from the U.S., and find out an amicable way to release the movie.
Keywords: Vishwaroopam release, Tamil Nadu ban, Kamal Haasan
Kartik,
Whether the movie is good or not is the point here,it might be your personal opinion that the movie is not good or maybe people might like the movie but banning a movie in a democracy is a first step towards autocracy and it needs to be condemned by the media. If media turns a blind eye,the power of government will start to spread its tentacles towards authoritarianism.
According to reports, the film is about happenings in Afganistan, Al Queda etc. Hence you have villains who carry muslim names. If it was about caste clashes then it would have caste names like Thevar Magan, Virumandi etc. After all it is only a film and we can take it or leave it. People are more wise and will not decide things based on films. If it was such then after Anbe Sivam Communists should have been more popular, when it is not so.
The most important thing is Secularism and brotherhood of common man which i dont think will get affected just because of a film. Ordinary Muslims and Hindus are intelligent and peace loving and that is the reason our nation have survived so far.
The film is not so good.I am disgusted how media is going out of its way to side with kamalahasan, just boz he is a senior actor !
all our musilm brothers should remeber one thing ,india is not pakistan or saudi arabia.This is a country run by govement which elected by all relegious people its not for particular race or relegion.
I am also one of those who regard THE HINDU as better than all other printed news papers in reporting ethics. I don't read or comment a paper which is biased one.
To my surprise, many of my comments to different news articles related to Vishwaroopam had been dropped in the name of Moderator decision.
'Responsibility to protect' editorial is self-contradictory, did the news room protected the right of readers reporting news as and when it unfolded in connection to Vishwaroopam,
In Malaysia, Kerala too banned now, no report on that.
Fans view point is projected, where is protesters view point that some issued in statements who have seen the movie?
One report here says, 25% of audience is muslims in Kerala for Vishwaroopam,
Ticket booking includes caste/religion column to fill? where did reporter find this?
If one particular community which oppose the movie, is a threat to freedom of expression. must just ignore it completely. The producer/actor Kamalahasan, seasoned movie man knew exactly how the revenue could be recovered soon. He has achieved what he was intended, before, even screening of his movie, the media hype, the publicity and the curiosity in youths mind. As the youths, the most populated audience, will sure generate the revenue put in the movie, otherwise if the movie flops in terms of running days.
THE HINDU is resorting to cultural censorship .It is muzzling my opinion
just because I raised my voice for justice to my Muslim brothers.Why
were my comments on Viswaroopam not published.For a paperthat claims to
be secular this is bad trend
Giving into emotional and pure irrational reasons is unbecoming of a freethinking democratic
society. The film is not displayed in public and is restricted and rated to paid viewers only. It
is a creative art of fiction and gone through all the formalities such as the national censors
and got clearance.If a person chooses not to see it, it is his/her prerogative. But, at the same
time, those who don't wish to watch the film have no right to deny others who wish to view it! Any
Government who is bending backward to accommodate such protests are on a shaky
ground.
A sad Irony. A south Indian Actor has no chance of releasing his movie
in south India when the rest of the world can watch it. I think he
should do the same all the time..
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