The 2013 Indian film Vishwaroopam was the subject of several controversies. One of the issues was related to its title. The Hindu Makkal Katchi party demanded the change from its current Sanskrit title to a purely Tamil one.[1] When Kamal Haasan announced a direct-to-home (DTH) film premiere, theater owners became upset and demanded a rollback of this plan. The theater owners feared losing out on box office revenue if people didn't have to go to theater for the premiere. Threatened by a complete theatre boycott of Vishwaroopam, Haasan agreed to release the film in theater first.[2]
Muslim groups in Tamil Nadu also demanded the film be banned and claimed that the film would hurt Muslim sentiments.[3] Although the film was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification of India, district collectors in the state of Tamil Nadu issued orders to the theatre owners not to screen Vishwaroopam, citing law and order problems. However, in other states with greater Muslim populations than in Tamil Nadu, the film was released.[4] The ban in Tamil Nadu triggered the stop of screenings in neighbouring Indian states as well as a few foreign markets.[5]
The film fraternity of India condemned the actions of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha in censoring the movie as an attack on freedom of speech in India,[6] but she denied all of the allegations against her regarding political and business interests.[7] After persistent pressure to cut the film's allegedly objectionable scenes, Kamal Haasan said that he could be forced to leave the state of Tamil Nadu and India. The reason is said to be that he was "fed up at being played around in a dirty political game".[8] He estimated the loss of revenues due to banning policies somewhere between ₹300–600 million.[9] A mutual agreement with the Muslims of Tamil Nadu was finally settled on 2 February 2013, when Haasan agreed to mute five scenes.[10]
- ^ "Kamal's Vishwaroopam in trouble". Behindwoods. 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "'Vishwaroopam' DTH release on February 2: Kamal". The Hindu. 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ "Screening of Kamal's film will affect social harmony". The Hindu. 22 January 2013. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ "Protest groups disrupt Vishwaroopam shows in Kerala". Rediff.com. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ "Let Malaysians watch Vishwaroopam, appeals ethnic Indian party". Daily News & Analysis. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "State govt trampling Kamal Haasan's freedom of expression: Mahesh Bhatt". Hindustan Times. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "Jayalalithaa justifies ban on 'Vishwaroopam'". The Hindu. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "Kamal Haasan to leave India?". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "Delayed release of Vishwaroopam caused Rs60-crore loss: Kamal Haasan". Daily News & Analysis. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "'Vishwaroopam' row settled: Kamal Haasan agrees to edit 7 scenes". NDTV. 2 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.