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Did a dhoti-clad PM lead to Haasan's Vishwaroopam ban? Karunanidhi asks

DMK president M Karunanidhi on Wednesday wondered whether the Tamil Nadu government's ban on Kamal Haasan's movie Vishwaroopam was because the actor wanted a dhoti-clad Tamilian as Prime Minister.

Updated on: Jan 30, 2013, 20:12:18 IST
IANS | By , Chennai
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Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) president M Karunanidhi on Wednesday wondered whether the Tamil Nadu government's ban on Kamal Haasan's movie Vishwaroopam was because the actor wanted a dhoti-clad Tamilian as Prime Minister.

HT Image
HT Image

In a letter to party cadres, Karunanidhi said some sections of people are of the view that the actor earned the ire of the state government after he said that a dhoti-clad Tamilian, referring to Union finance minister P Chidambaram, should become the country's Prime Minister.

Karunanidhi also said that there is a view among a section of people that a television channel close to the ruling party in the state had offered to buy the rights of Vishwaroopam, which the actor declined as the price quoted was much lower than what the film was sold for to another channel.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier banned the release of Vishwaroopam for 15 days as it feared the movie could spark a law and order problem because it contained references to the Muslim community that were allegedly derogatory.

Many Muslim organisations had opposed the movie, claiming that it presented the community in poor light.

Earlier in the day, Kamal Haasan told reporters that he was unable to understand why Vishwaroopam was banned. The film had cost Rs. 95 crore to produce.

Kamal said he would scout for a truly secular Indian state; otherwise, he would settle in some other country that was secular.

"I don't understand what is happening. If I try to understand, I will turn into a politician. I don't want to," the 58-year-old actor said.

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