Bangalore bats for Kamal Haasan Viswa Roopam

The ban imposed by the Tamil Nadu government on Kamal Haasan's latest film has people in creative spaces both outraged and surprised at this development. BT spoke to some of Bangalore's creative souls to gauge their reactions to the ban and to Kamal's threat to seek exile. Prakash Belawadi, theatre person: I do not think the state is competent enough to judge a film good, bad, or ugly. This is why we have the Censor Board of Film Certification that is completely equipped to judge a film socially, psychologically and politically. For a state to take a stand on this is, to my mind, calling upon legal resources that it's not meant to use for this purpose. In a society such as ours that is so diverse and so full of inequities, no work of art will fail to offend one group or the other. But are you going to ban everything? As for Kamal's threat to seek exile to a more secular destination, you make those kind of statements when pushed. It's a silly thing to say. Kavita Lankesh, filmmaker: The fact that it has been cleared by the Board should have been the final word. After that, it is up to the government to ensure that theatres are protected and the film is screened. Any form of art should be seen. The Censor Board should be accepted as an institution and allowed to take calls on such issues. It is sad that Kamal has been forced to say that he could leave the country. He is, after all, an intense filmmaker and intelligent man. But then 90% of creativity happens on your own soil. Why would filmmakers like Deepa Mehta and Mira Nair still make movies based here? Vani Ganapathy, dancer: After the Censor Board, has passed it, I don't see any reason why there should be a ban on a film. Those who want to protest have a right to do so because we are in a democratic country, but those who want to see it should also have the right to see it without any obstructions. A person who wants to make a film should be able to make it with freedom. Each person has a right to feel how they want to — whether they want to move out (of the country), or if they want to stay on. I don't see why anyone should sit in judgment or comment on that. After all, they are individuals and have a right to their feelings.

Vishwaroopam ban aimed at maintaining law and order: Jayalalithaa

Chief minister Jayalalithaa justifies ban on Vishwaroopam; cites shortage of police to provide security at theatres. "Had the film maker screened the movie for the Muslim leaders in the beginning itself, all this could have been avoided," said the Tamil Nadu chief minister. Stating that it was a purely law and order problem, Jayalalithaa said, "I do not have the police force to protect the 500-odd theatres in the state." "Haasan called the Muslim leaders for a viewing only after he was set for release. And finally, he did call some Muslim leaders for a screening at his house. But after seeing the film, the Muslim organisations met the chief secretary and announced a series of agitations across the state," she added. "After his return from the US, Haasan sought a meeting with me, but as he had by then already moved the Madras High Court, I could not have interfere in the subjudice case," Jayalalithaa added. "Following Kamal Haasan coming out in favour of editing parts of the movie on Wednesday, I would suggest that if he and the Muslim organisation leaders can sit together and thrash out an amicable agreement, the Tamil Nadu government would do everything possible to take it from there," she added.

Kamal Haasan leaves Chennai!

Kamal Haasan has left for Mumbai from Chennai around 6 in the morning for the Hindi release of Vishwaroopam, titled Vishwaroop, tomorrow. The support for him from Bollywood thanks to statements from the likes of Shahrukh, Salman and Aamir Khan to name a few, must have really emboldened him. Kamal and his movie have also been trending topics in the Twitter space over the past few days. These might result in a thunderous opening for the Hindi version. Vishwaroop is set to release across the rest of India in 800 plus screens thereby marking the biggest ever release for a Kamal Haasan film in Hindi. We wish the star all the luck for a splendid box-office performance in Hindi as the Tamil version continues to be embedded in layers of controversy.