Don’t join Vishwaroopam conspiracy, minister told

MIC's Vell Paari says Kamal Hassan is a victim of South Indian politics, and Hishammuddin Hussein must not be a part of this.

PETALING JAYA: A MIC leader has urged the Home Ministry not to join the conspiracy against the much anticipated Tamil movie Vishwaroopam starring Kamal Hassan.

“Kamal Haasan is a victim of South Indian politics. He is punished for not selling the television rights of Vishwaroopam to certain politically-owned media groups at a cheaper price.

“Let us not be a part or assist a certain media group in South India to punish a true legend of the Indian cinema,” said MIC strategy director S Vell Paari on Twitter.

Elaborating further Vell Paari said the first stumbling block against the movie came about when a group of Tamil Muslims aligned to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) filed a case with the Madras High Court, Tamil Nadu.

The filing came about after Jaya TV group, owned by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, failed to buy the television rights of Vishwaroopam at a lower price. Jayalalitha is also an AIADMK leader.

Vishwaroopam is a spy thriller directed, co-produced and starring South Indian film star Kamal Haasan.

The movie revolves around international terrorism and Kamal Haasan dons three roles – an Indian classical dancer, Indian anti-terrorism agent and an agent who infiltrates a terrorist group.

In Malaysia, Vishwaroopam was suspended last Friday after cinemas began screening the movie.

Film Censorship Board’s (LPF) enforcement and control division secretary Razak Derahman told FMT that the screening of Viswaroopam was suspended on the orders of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

According to Razak, the Malaysian Indian Muslim Youth Movement sent a memorandum to the Home Ministry on Wednesday to oppose the screening of the movie that is alleged to hurt the religious sensitivities of Muslims.

A few days earlier, the Penang Muslim League held a protest against the movie in Penang.

Since then, calls to lift the suspension have come from various quarters such as Hindraf.

Controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen who lives in exile in India called Malaysia a coward nation after the Indian media reported the suspension.

Meanwhile, Vell Paari also extended an invitation to Hishamuddin and his officials to watch Vishwaroopam.

“I want to invite Hishammuddin and his officials to watch a special screening of Vishwaroopam which I can arrange with film distributor, Lotus Five Star,” he said.