Chennai:
The two-week ban on Kamal Haasan's
Vishwaroopam has been lifted in Tamil Nadu. A day after the actor-director reached an agreement with Muslim groups opposing his mega-budget thriller, district collectors in the state today revoked the prohibitory orders under which the release of the film was banned. This paves the way for the film's release in Tamil Nadu, its biggest market.
Prohibitory orders on
Vishwaroopam had been imposed in all 31 districts of Tamil Nadu on January 23 when the state government banned the film for two weeks over concerns that it could disturb law and order.
Fans will have to wait for some more time though to watch the movie in theatres. Mr Haasan will have to formally withdraw his petition against the ban. Also, the movie will now have to compete for screen time with two other big weekend releases - Mani Ratnam's
Kadal and actor Vikram's
David. Both are running to packed houses and have advance bookings for a few days.
Mr Haasan had yesterday agreed to edit sound clips in seven scenes in
Vishwaroopam, which the protesting groups found objectionable. The compromise came after a six-hour meeting between the producer, government officials, and representatives of Muslim groups in Chennai.
Emerging from the meeting, Kamal Haasan said, "I will let you know the date of the release soon." He thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Home Secretary R Rajagopal for arranging the meeting.
The movie, which has been cleared by the censor board, ran into trouble in Tamil Nadu after some groups alleged it portrayed Muslims in poor light. The state government's two-week ban was upheld by the Madras High Court.