Kamal Haasan's Viaswaroopam has got into anther controversy after some Muslim organisations started protest against the release of the movie, alleging the way their community is depicted in the movie.
The Madras High Court today issued an order of postponing the release till January 28, on a petition filed by Haasan against the state government's ban on his movie. On Wednesday night, the state government had ordered a 15-day ban on the movie, pointing out that the release might create 'law and order issues,'. The film was to release on January 25.
Haasan, who filed two writ petitions, mentioned that there was no notice served on Kamal Haasan before banning the movie and that he had no knowledge of such an action coming up and there was no order against which he could file a petition on. "We have filed two writ petitions: One seeking a declaration that the action is aconstitutional and another writ petition for a mandamus for forbearing from any more interfering with the right to peacefully releasing the film," said the counsel appeared for Haasan.
The movie was earlier caught into tussle between Hassan and theatre owners in the state after the former decided to pre-release film on direct-to-home platforms prior to theatrical release.
This is second time Haasan, who has also produced the Rs 95 crore film under his banner Rajkamal Films International, has defer the release of the movie.
It may be noted that the movie has been booked by audience in around 450-500 theatres in Tamil Nadu alone, for next few days. It has already been released in countries like Malaysia, said sources. The loss for Rajkamal Films because of the postponement is not known now.
According to industry sources, the production firm is liable for around Rs 75-80 crore, including the payment to PVP Ventures, which earlier started the production and from which RajKamal Films has taken over the movie in a later stage. However, PVP official was not available for confirmation. Haasan's communication officer refused to comment on the financial liability.
A senior member of the state's producers' organisation said that some of the previous projects had stuck due to various reasons and that along with interest would be a liability of a few crores to the production house.
However, the losses could not be a major trouble for the actor, since he has a popularity which he could use to cash in on through some third party films and pay the liabilities, said two film producers unanimously.
It may be noted that the actor has recently patched up the disputes with the theatre owners association on the planned releas of the movie in Direct to Home before the theatrical release. The theatre owners raised their protest right after the actor announced his plan to sell his movie premier in DTH for Rs 1000 per subscriber in the beginning of December, 2012.
He has also announced tie up with all the six private DTH players in the country, Airtel Digital TV, Sun Direct, Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h and Reliance Big TV, to show the premier on January 10, 2013, a day before the actual theatrical release was planned. According to sources in the industry the deal was expected to bring in around Rs 45-50 crore to Haasan for the only one show in the DTH space. It may be noted that Haasan has also held discussions with overseas firms to air the movie primier in DTH in countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Middle East, the talks were not finalised due to lack of time, according to sources.
However, the plan was changed later and almost near to the movie release on the DTH, it was announced that the theatrical release along with DTH release has been postponed. Haasan then fixed the date for theatrical release on January 25, 2013 and announced that the DTH broadcast would be on February 2, 2013.
With this, Haasan was expected to get around 450-500 theatres in Tamil Nadu alone and the theatres have already started booking and so far around two to 2.5 crore people would have booked the movie, according to industry sources.
Meanwhile, a few muslim organisations have raised their concerns over the way allegedly the movie depicted their community. This has went to protests and the movie was banned by the government saying that it might create law and order issues.
Responding to the ban, Haasan, who is in US for the release of the movie there, communicated,
"I am not only hurt by these accusations of denigrating a community but my sensibilities are truly insulted."
"While I am touched by the voices in support for me and my film, I am appalled at how my film is construed to be against my Muslim brothers," he said.
"I have been ruthlessly used as a vehicle by small groups who seek political profile. Icon bashing is a great way to be noticed when you are not one yourself. It is happening again and again. Any neutral and patriotic Muslim will surely feel pride on seeing my film. It was designed for that purpose. Now I will rely on law and logic to come to our support. This kind of cultural terrorism will havt to stop," he added.
