Government says the talks will be held today
The stalemate over the release of the film Vishwaroopam continued on Friday with both sides – Kamal Haasan’s Rajkamal Films International and the Federation of Tamil Nadu Muslims Social and Political Organisations – having approached the Principal Secretary (Home) with letters citing their willingness to hold talks.
By late night, the State government informed the parties that the talks would be held on Saturday.
While the Muslim groups led by the Federation, represented by its co-ordinator Mohammed Hanifa, told journalists at the Secretariat on Friday that they were willing to talk about the “objectionable sequences” to Rajkamal Films International, it looks like their insistence over the presence of filmmaker-actor Kamal Haasan might have postponed the talks. Rajkamal was represented by S.Chandrahasan, the actor’s elder brother and a partner of the production house.
Mr. Kamal Haasan left for Mumbai on Thursday to promote Vishwaroop, the Hindi version of the movie, and is expected to return to Chennai on Saturday.
The Federation presented its letter to the Home Secretary. Rajkamal Films International was represented by Mr.Chandrahasan and a few others.
Dismissing some speculations on the extent of cuts demanded over the movie, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi MLA Jawahirullah, who was has been holding deliberations with the Muslim Federation, told The Hindu that there were no specific demands and that some media were indulging in wild speculations. “We are ready to present our demands and hopefully achieve an amicable solution in a single sitting.”
Mr. Chandrahasan, in a telephonic conversation with The Hindu, said the initial grounds for the talks were set by both parties. He acknowledged that there was a demand that Mr. Kamal Hassan must be present for the talks.
A. Ismail, representing the Federation, said though Mr. Kamal Haasan had offered to cut a few scenes from the movie after a meeting with certain other group of Muslims, the Federation was yet know what the scenes were. He said there was no point speculating on the nature of the cuts until the talks started.
Opposition from Sunnath Jamath
Meanwhile, another Muslim organisation Tamil Nadu Sunnath Jamath issued a statement stating that it was alarmed that a group of 23 organisations were vehemently opposing the release of the movie, and alleged that the groups were professing an extremist ideology that clouded their perception. It also charged that the Federation did not consult the Government Chief Qazi on the issue.
Keywords: Vishwaroopam ban, Tamil Nadu government ban, tripartite talks, Muslim body protests, Muslim organisations, Jayalalithaa press conference
@Rakavan.Fundamental rights doesn't interpret as portraying other communities as terrorists. To add to the insult, is that Kamal Haasan is saying that hero of the movie is a good Muslim. What's the need to portray Muslims from other countries as bad guys? How can we decide Muslims from other countries are terrorists. Muslims never portrayed or had taken a movie, portraying Hindus as terrorists.
Don't classify people on the basis of the country they live in. Many Hindu priests and God men do all the misdeeds in the society today. This cant be generalised for all Hindus in that matter. Besides, Muslims in India or abroad, never denigrated or defamed Hindus or its religion. Cant we expect some mutual respect each other. For the sake of monetary reasons, are we the people who get sold as commodity. Muslims need their respect and space in India as others have.
Please, I request the Prince of Arcot, the champion of Secularism and Harmony, to mediate in this issue.
It is a pity that politicians play politics to keep their vote banks happy with no consideration for protecting the freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution. India must decide whether it wants to be a democratic country that takes freedom of speech seriously or be a suppressor of this fundamental right of its citizens. As the film does not spread hatred, it should be allowed to be screened.
Perhaps next all the politicians should file complaint against almost all films released in India for showing them as bad people don't you think? All private college or big corporation should file complaint too for being shown as bad elements.... some
movies show police men as bad people who are they going to give complaint too?
Where does this stop? Every movie affects the sentiments of someone in some
profession/language/race/religion. Oh by the way some movie show even the
advocates and judges as bad villains what about those? Who should examine those? <
CM's statement that is not a political issue or personal one, is hard to believe because of 2 important FACTS. (1)The movie Thuppakki also was alleged to have had negative reference to Islam, by the same Muslim group, they met the CM,who had promised as per news reports "promised them that the objectionable part of the movie will be deleted" but still some Muslim groups argue that the portions are not deleted and the matter seems to be court. When government did not ban Thuppakki why was the hurry in banning Vishwaroopam. (2)States with more Muslim population have had no problem in releasing the movie, why was TN apprehensive on law and order problem. Will it mean any powerful pressure group will have their demands met, by threatening government of causing law and order problem? when the Judges see the movie to take a decision on lifting the ban, how many district collectors saw the movie before banning the movie, or did the chief secretary see it?
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