Rajkamal Films International, Kamal Haasan’s production house, and the primary opposition to the film Vishwaroopam – the Federation of Tamil Nadu Muslims Social and Political Organisation and the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath – have agreed to sit and negotiate terms for the release of the movie. Both sides have requested the State government to oversee the discussions.
Till late night, both sides were waiting for a green light from the government circles to set the talks into motion.
The reconciliation between the two parties was set rolling after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s press meet at the Secretariat.
The first signs of a patch up appeared from the Kamal Haasan camp in the afternoon, when a section of actors, led by senior artists Sivakumar and Raadika, immediately after the Chief Minister’s press meet was broadcast live by a section of news channels, told waiting reporters that they were happy at the Chief Minister’s stance on the issue and that Rajkamal Films International would take the route suggested by her – to sit across a table with the agitating organisations, identify the scenes found to be offensive and edit them out.
Actor and film-maker Kamal Haasan, by then had left for Mumbai to oversee the release of Hindi version, Vishwaroop.
He had come forward to censor the sequences depicting the Holy Quran yesterday itself, but that assurance was made to a different group of Muslims and not the Federation or the Thowheed Jamaath that represented to the government its objections over the movie.
Speaking to The Hindu, S. Chandrahasan, brother of actor Kamal Haasan and partner of Rajkamal Films International, said his side was completely prepared to settle the issue as suggested by the Chief Minister.
“I have requested the Home Secretary’s office to oversee the negotiations to ensure there are no further complications. We are awaiting a reply from the government.”
Mohammed Hanifa of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Muslims Social and Political Organisation, in a telephonic interview late in the night, said the group had heard from Rajkamal Films International and was willing to sit and present its point of view and identify objectionable sequences to be deleted. In a press release, Rahmed Shibvi of Thowheed Jamad, echoed the sentiments.
The copy has been corrected for a factual error.
