Relief for Kamal Haasan, Madras HC lifts ban on ’Vishwaroopam’

New Delhi, 29 Jan 2013: In a relief for actor Kamal Haasan, the Madras high court has lifted the ban on release of ’Vishwaroopam’ in Tamil Nadu.

 

The Tamil Nadu government said that it would appeal against the verdict.

 

Earlier, questioning the ’UA’ certificate issued to ’Vishwaroopam’, Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday alleged in the Madras high court that certification of films itself was a "very big scam" and sought a probe into it by a law enforcing agency.

 

Arguing before Justice K Venkataraman, advocate general A Navaneethakrishnan said the "UA" certificate to ’Vishwaroopam’ was not issued by the Censor Board, but only by an examining committee not mandated by provisions of the Constitution.

 

Rejecting the charge, additional solicitor General Wilson said the certification was done by procedure. The application for certification came to the Censor Board on Oct 4, 2012, the film was viewed on Oct 8 and a showcause notice to cut certain scenes sent on October 10, he said.

 

The cuts were accepted and removed and the final certification given on October 17. Scenes to a running time of 1.08 minutes were cut, he said.

 

Even at a meeting with the home secretary on Dec 23 last, the examining officer said objectionable scenes were deleted from the film, Wilson said.

 

The Tamil Nadu government had banned the screening of the film in the face of opposition by some Muslim outfits, who claimed that the nearly Rs 100 crore movie portrayed their community in a negative light.