Making her position public for the first time on the row over Vishwaroopam, a film made by Kamal Haasan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday said the decks could be cleared for the screening of the movie if leaders of Muslim organisations and the actor arrived at an amicable agreement and he agreed to delete objectionable portions.
‘No question of curbing freedom of speech’
“The government of Tamil Nadu will do everything possible to facilitate such an agreement. There is no question of curbing freedom of speech,” the Chief Minister told reporters at an unscheduled press conference here.
Clarifying several points on the controversy, she said it was a total misconception that the State government did not have powers to ban a movie. Section 7 of the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1955, provided full powers to the State government to effect a ban. She pointed out that using the clause, the movie Dam 999 was banned and this was upheld by the Supreme Court.
‘No political vendetta’
In the case of Vishwaroopam, the State government had applied only Section 144 of the Cr.PC because it wanted to give time for tempers to cool down and both sides could come together. The government could have straight away banned the movie, if it wanted to do so. But it did not. “That itself should prove that this is not political vendetta. There is no reason for any vindictiveness. Mr. Haasan is not my rival in any way,” she added.
On Wednesday, Mr. Haasan had agreed to delete some of the objectionable portions. The leaders of Muslim organisations are in a frame of mind to accept this, she said.
As her first and foremost priority was the maintenance of law and order, she justified the ban, citing intelligence reports which stated that the protest, planned by various Muslim organisations, could turn violent in some parts of the State.
She also referred to inadequate police strength for giving protection at 524 cinema halls where the movie was to be screened.
The Chief Minister criticised Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi for using every opportunity to politicise the issue. As far as her government was concerned, the controversy was not a political issue but a matter of law and order.
Keywords: Vishwaroopam ban, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu Government ban, Muslim body protests, Muslim organisation, Kamal Haasan
None of the other states that are screening the movie faced a
situation where 24 organizations threatened the government with
agitations if the movie was screened. If the government ignored their
requests and gave police protection to the theaters to screen the
film, do you think the public would get to watch the movie peacefully.
Who knows we might have seen riots and loss of lives (no matter how
much police protection you give), all this for releasing a movie .
Using up the entire police force to protect a movie release is just
ridiculous. Nothing wrong in delaying the release so talks can take
place and let things settle down. The government and the police have
better things to worry about!
What is the need for a provision to empower the goverment to ban a film, if the film is duly certified by the competant censor board?
We need to revamp our constitutional laws which was made decade ago.
The Chief Minister's concerns are also quite convincing. Kamal now instead of blowing up the issue could sort it out for a smooth release of the film.
If she can’t handle the protests of a few thousand religious fanatics, then she is unfit to rule Tamil Nadu. People with a little bit knowledge about Jayalalitha may know very well that she has banned the film to garner the votes Muslims in Tamilnadu and may be due to personnel likes and dislikes.
It’s high time Jayalalitha realizes that she can’t keep on cheating the gullible public and the day of reckoning is not far.
Amma Vanakkam,
Why were you waiting for a week to open your mouth. Do you think that few thousand people who are against this can create violence and your government cant tackle it. And you put 144 in states to curb kamal Fans not come in crowd!. Why are you expecting him to show the Movie to the Muslim leaders in advance in what way it could have helped? Come on Amma be a good mothers to Tamils and dont act under mamta's training as she is leading a state where public are not bothered of anything and you are heading an intelligent state and you can do this for the sake of this small group. Also how come all state can impose rule 144 even without getting individual threats? Amma again please nice and dont blame anyone for the fault of your own government,
How insensible ! Asking for an agreement with Muslim outfits shows that
the state government has 'itself' no objection with the contents of the
movie , the state and the police force are refusing the release just
because they are incapable of performing their duty of providing enough
force to maintain law and order in the state.
it is a clear case of admission on the part of the rulers that a few leaders of a community and not the government, can decide the right of an individual to express what he thinks fit, which was also approved to be proper by the authority constituted by the government. let the public view and disapprove it if it is otherwise. the government should not cow down to threats of violence. it will set bad precedents.
Dear Cheif Minister, the movie was screened in Kerala and Malaysia where the majority group is muslim group.If there was no issue in those places then, why would you expect a problem in tamilnadu alone?
Ms Jayalalitha is following Congress when it comes to appeasing the minorities. No producer, writer, painter will get the approval of an individual or community before publishing the work. Doing so goes aginst the freedom of speech and expression.
Asking Mr Kamala Hasan to negotiate with Muslim leaders is tantamount to abdicating one's responsibiliy. She parroted what the Single Bench Judge said the other day.
We expect leadership from the CM not abject surrender to few disgruntled elements.
Going by the SC order to the Karnataka Govt on the Cauvery issue, if the
government of a state cannot provide law and order in state, then they
should resign. The movie is running in other states. Apparently, they
are not facing any of those law and order issues? Blaming Muslim
organizations and creating false fears is criminal.
She has very candidly made it clear that the govt. is not in a position to handle the protest by
the minorities and will not be able to maintain law&order in the state. Some time back also,
when the minorities protested in front of The U.S consolate on the mount road against the
U.S govt. on a trival issue, the T.N govt. was a mute spectator and clearly exhibited its
incapablity. Who is to be found fault with? The govt.? Or those majority who voted for the
party? Iam neither a hassan-fan nor politically motivated person.
this is what one govt should do
Chief minister has stated that the situation could have been avoided had Kamala Hasan
showed the picture to Muslim leaders prior to the release of the movie.
In future it should be made mandatory that all the movies produced should be shown to
Muslim leaders before the release. Likewise if there is any thing in movie relating tto
Christians it should be screened to Christian priests.
How many times movies have even released hurting the feelings of Brahmins. Nobody
talked about these things because Brahmins are in a minority and are afraid to protest.
Viswaroopam is a Tamil film. When it was banned in Tamil Nadu by the govt. it had a domino effect, resulting in media hysteria and its eventual ban in other states and abroad. Then..who is responsible? Statements and justifications like this smack of political expediency to say the least. Anyway it is an avoidable, costly controversy.
Yes...I agree with Ms Jayalalithaa,the CM. Afterall she herself was an
actor ...why will she cross swords with a fellow actor? She has rightly
said that Haasan has to first mollify the Tamil Nadu Muslims
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