This part was censored in Msia

This part was censored in Msia

Kamal Haasan’s latest flick to be on MH370

The Tamil star is believed to begin pre-production work for the movie next month.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: While the world acknowledges the first anniversary of one of aviation’s greatest mysteries – the disappearance of MAS flight MH370, one Tamil superstar plans to make a move based on it.

According to online India news portal www.iluvcinema.in, Kamal Haasan is believed to be producing the movie under the Raj Kamal Films International banner, with pre-production work scheduled for next month, The Rakyat Post reported.

Besides the Tamil hotshot, the movie will be directed by top choreographer Prabhu Deva, who has a string of Tamil, Telugu and Bollywood hits to his credit.

Kamal Haasan meanwhile has a movie that will be released soon, Uthama Villain, which he produced, wrote and acted in.

Big Boss fans try to muscle in on a datukship

Online petition to honour Tamil superstar Rajinikanth.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Move over Datuk Jackie Chan, Datuk Michelle Yeoh and Datuk Shah Rukh Khan. It’s “Big Boss” superstar Rajinikanth’s turn to get a datukship! Or so say his fans, who have started a petition to honour him.

Malaysians will remember that in the run-up to the 2008 General Elections, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had a huge billboard in Bangsar with him dressed as Rajinikanth’s character, dark glasses and all, in the movie Big Boss.

His daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who had a starring role on the billboard, went on to thrash Umno Wanita Chief Sharizat Abdul Jalil in the Lembah Pantai seat for Parliament.

Fans of the Kollywood star, a veteran of Tamil and Hindi films, now want Rajinikanth to be honoured like Jackie, Michelle and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan. They are on a signature campaign to urge the government to honour the Indian actor with a datukship.

Why didn’t they think of asking Anwar who obviously admires Rajinikanth?

According to Malay Mail Online, an online petition has been set up for local fans to plead that “talapathi” (Tamil for ‘leader of leaders’) be given a datukship.

“In recent years, datukship has been given to Shah Rukh Khan and also Jackie Chan. If this is possible, then we request to give datukship to Superstar Rajnikanth too. Thalaiva!!!!” reads the petition started by fan Ravisankar Sellakkannu.

“If Jackie Chan can get, our Rajni deserve more,” a fan from Kulim in Kedah, Visnu Shanmugam, wrote on the petition page.

Another admirer, Padmanaban Ben from Ampang, wrote: “Superstar Rajinikanth has a huge fan following in Malaysia and he deserves to (get) this award.”

Rajinikanth, whose real name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, has a global cult-following. His films are generally blockbusters.

Why ban Noah in Islamic countries?

By Azly Rahman

A good philosophical movie ‘Noah’ is; classic arguments between Fate and Free Will, juxtaposed with the Epic of Gilgamesh I am currently discussing. Now I know how Noah looks like. Like Russell Crowe! Good to see how the nephilim, the fallen angles, and the animals in Noah’s ark looked like.

Thank you Hollywood.

I suppose I am done imagining what all these looked like via readings/oral literacy. Now there is George-Lucas-Pixar-standard visual literacy. There is a nice element of fantasy in it, especially in the Transformer-looking fallen angels. I thought those were ugly-looking creations with some good thoughts.

Too bad many Muslims countries have banned ‘Noah’ for flimsy reasons when the value of the movie is a thousand times more. I would lift the ban and even use the movie in all classes in those countries. Can talk about cosmological doctrines, Creation myths, the philosophy of Good vs Evil, Love vs Duty/Dharma, and many more themes of human existence.

I think we should replace those in the Censorship Board and put in more Humanities and Philosophy scholars in them who understand not only deeply engaging English dialogues but comparative scriptures, pragmatism, and the value of cinema in teaching Cross-Cultural Perspectives.

The younger generation will benefit from these approaches. It is their future. Because they are millennial children (of the 21st century) and have mastered Visual Literacy.

Above all, the old have to give way to the young of which we cannot underestimate their natural urge to ask questions and philosophise. They will be the ones inheriting this troubling world. A world awaiting another deluge.

But then again that’s what the Islamic society of today is about – devoid of educational philosophers, cosmopolitan thinkers, and deconstructionists.

I shall not worship Russell Crowe as Noah after watching the movie, now that the Babylonian mythical figure has been represented by Hollywood. As a matter of fact, I have never been keen in worshipping anybody – not even Al Pacino as the Godfather.

Now why the ban? Isn’t this already the 21st century, the Neo-Frankenstein Era and not the Dark Ages?

Copycat banning?

Malaysia need not follow the eagerness of banning good movies such as ‘Noah’ just because other ‘Islamic countries’ decided to ban it. I thought Malaysia is more progressive than Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, and even Indonesia in matters of dealing with liberal ideas related to the advancement of thinking in society.

What is there to emulate in countries that ban women from driving, labelling atheists as terrorists, giving light sentence to a father who raped and murdered his five-year old daughter, or to look up to a country whose people shoot little girls in the face just for the crime of going to school to get an education?

What good reason to share fatwas with those countries whose citizens are kept at a low level of literacy enough to just memorise the scriptures but not to think, and enough to be controlled by the cleric and the monarchs?

Malaysia is blessed with a multicultural mix of peoples and a good social environment wherein people of different faiths, be they of the monotheistic or polytheistic systems, not only can learn to respect each other’s traditions but even, a mature society, engage in good philosophical discussions stimulated by good movies such a ‘Noah’ or even ‘The Passion of the Christ’ and ‘The Mahabharata’ created by Peter Brooks.

This dialogical nature of being members of a civil society always in the lifelong-learning mode and in deep respect for knowledge and new interpretations of old ideas ought to be what Malaysia is – not the book and movie banning and jailing-of-citizens-without-trial kind of Malaysia we deplore. Not the fork-tongued confusion-generating officials in an MH370 global media conference – kind of Malaysia we are seeing.

But this Malaysia is controlled by groups that are anti-knowledge, anti-new interpretations, and always afraid of the shadow of their own ignorance.

READ MORE HERE

Salman Khan, Bigg Boss producers booked for hurting sentiments

Following a court order, police on Friday registered a first information report (FIR) against
Bollywood actor Salman Khan and producers of reality TV show Big Boss 7 for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments.

Mohammed Fasihuddin, a businessman, had moved the magistrate's court
seeking a direction to the police to register a criminal case, on the ground that the show hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community, said his lawyerM A Qawi Abbasim.

"We registered an FIR on December 13. We will have to investigate the case. We need to question the complainant and gather evidence before proceeding further," said a senior police official when asked whether the actor would be summoned for probe.

The FIR has been lodged under section 295 (A) of Indian Penal Code (`acts intended to outrage religious feelings').

According to the complainant, certain expressions used by Salman for describing elimination and promotion of participants were offensive.

Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma told reporters that police had also sought legal opinion as to city police's jurisdiction to register and probe the case.

Warning from Hindu Society. Change the name of ‘Ram-leela’ by Sanjay Bhansali, immediately.

Allahabad High Court bans ‘Goliyon ki raasleela Ram-Leela’ film in UP. Ban after ban from Courts, Protest after protests from Hindu Society. But who will stop this derogatory ‘Ram-leela’ by Sanjay Bhansali?

Upananda Brahmachari | Allahabad | 22 Nov 2013:: Allahabad High Court banned ‘Goliyon ki raasleela Ram-Leela’ in UP. The Allahabad High Court on Thursday banned director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic saga “ Goliyon ki raasleela Ram-Leela” in Uttar Pradesh. This ban came after it got stricture by Madhya Pradesh High Court on 14th Nov 2013 as directed striking out of word ‘Ram-Leela” from its title after a plea alleged that it use had hurt religious sentiments.

But, ignoring the Hindu Sentiment and several protests in different parts of the country, Sanjay Bhansali and company released the ‘impugned’ film on 15th Nov upon their strength of money power and exercise of their anti Hindu power lobbied in Central Film Censor Board.

Now, the Lucknow bench of the court comprising justices Devi Prasad Singh and Ashok Pal Singh passed the order to ban the film on a petition filed by Maryada Purshottam Bhagwan Ramleela Samiti, Bahraich.

The petitioner had prayed for cancellation of Censor Board certification given to the film on November 1 and sought that controversial and objectionable dialogues be removed from the film.

The petition had contended that the film was hurting religious sentiments of Hindus and its title ‘Ramleela’ was giving a wrong message to society as Lord Ram’s ‘leela’ (act) had great impact on Indian society.

Besides, Centre, state government, Central Film Certification Board, UP’s chief secretary, Eros International and Bhansali had been made a party in the petition.

In the early development, the film’s name was previously changed from ‘Ramleela’ to ‘Ram-Leela’ and it was now being called ‘Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela’ after objections were raised to its name. But, it was nothing but a hypocrisy of Sanjay Leela Bhansali to show his might in the Bollywood film industry as well to undermine the Hindu Sentiments over one billion people who know Ramleea as the cultural depiction and performing art on the biography of Lord Rama.

However, a division bench in MP High Court comprising acting Chief Justice K K Lahoti and Justice Subhash Kakode on 14-11-2013 issued the directives to remove the word ‘Ram-Leela’ on a petition filed by lawyers Anand Chawla and Amit Kumar Sahu.

Then, the MP high court also issued notices to the CEO of Eros International, Kishore Lulla, film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, actors Deepika Padukone and Ranvir Singh, who are playing the lead roles, and sought their replies.

The petitioners contended that use of the word ‘Ramleela’ in the film title and its posters had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and demanded their removal.

But, it is the time for whole of Hindu Society to take the challenge of Sanjay Leela Bhansali to run his ‘leela’ of foul playing with the Hindu sentiments. The Hindu society peacefully demonstrated to restore their religious rights. We reached the roads to lodge Hindu protests.

DNA reported on 15th Nov as Ram-Leela faces protest in several states. They reported the protests from Indore (Madyapradesh) , Rajkot (Gujarat), Jalandhar (Punjab) and the Capital city of Delhi. On the same day NDTV highlighted the news of disruption of screening of Ram-leela at Indore. In all these places Bajrangdal protested on roads. On 16th Nov, the Hindustan Times highlighted the news from Patiala (Punjab) where Hindu Kranti Dal took on road to object the screening of Ram-leela. The protest got violent while the agitators attcked multiplex in Rajkot. The Rashtravadi Shiv Sena vehemently protested in Delhi to ban the name of Ram-leela which is actually tagged with the film of Sanjay Bhansali very unnecessarily. But who cares for these Hindus?

Now, the final time has come for Hindus! They have protested, went to the Hon’ble Courts but the Honour of Lord Ram could not be perceived by some anti Hindu propagators and the puppets of “D” Company as we understand. The chapter of ‘Idam Shastram’ (the discussion and negotiation on logic) has been over. Now, Hindus have the other option ‘Idam Sastram’ (direct action against evil power). अग्रेतु चःतुर: वेदा: पृष्टेतु सशर: धनु: | इदं शास्त्रं इदं सस्त्रम् शापादपि: शरादपि: ||

So, the ‘Sanjay-leela’ begins. Time for Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ranvir Kapoor and Deepika Padukon and others trying to defame the Hindu Dharma and hurt Hindu sentiments. stars now.

Madras Cafe still under review

The Film Censorship Board has not received any protest memorandum against the Hindi Movie, Madras Cafe, which depicts India's involvement in Sri Lanka's conflict with LTTE.

PETALING JAYA: Film Censorship Board is still reviewing the Hindi movie Madras Cafe and has not received any protest memorandum to ban the film.

Film Censorship Board chairman Raja Azhar Raja Abdul Manaf said there were applications from the cinemas to screen the movie.

The movie depicts the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) as a terrorist organisation and this has raised the ire of Tamil Nadu state in India and other countries.

The movie is banned in Tamil Nadu.

On Monday, a coalition of Tamil non-governmental organisations in Malaysia opposed the screening of the movie.

Tamil Progressive Team chief MA Kalaimughilan accused Bollywood actor John Abraham, who is a co-producer of the movie, of making a film with advice from Sri Lanka government.

“We have sent our objections to the Home Ministry,” he said.

However, Raja Azhar said the censorship board did not receive any protest memorandum against the movie.

The movie, starring Abraham is a story about India’s involvement in Sri Lanka’s conflict with LTTE.

Abraham plays the role of a Research Analysis Wing (RAW) agent, an Indian equivalent of Britain’s MI-6.

Madras Café on a hot tin roof

Sircar and Abraham have the right to make a film which may be supportive of the Sri Lankan government.
COMMENT

India’s Tamil Nadu seems to be in the grip of extra-constitutional censorship. One film after another is running into rough weather.

After Viswaroopam and Thalaivaa, It is now the turn of Shoojit Sircar-directed, John Abraham starrer Madras Café.

While some Muslim groups were angry with the way their community was portrayed in Kamal Hassan’s Viswaroopam (though the real cause was rumoured to be something else) and delayed its release by several weeks earlier this year, it was never quite clear why Vijay’s Thalaivaa hit a roadblock some days ago.

Ultimately, the reason cited was that the Tamil Nadu Government of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa (belonging to the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam/AIADMK) did not like Thalaivaa’s tag line, Time to Lead. This was removed, and the movie is now on in Tamil Nadu.

(When I watched the film a couple of days ago, I found actor Vijay copying the dress sense and mannerisms of both MG Ramachandran (actor and former AIADMK Chief Minister) and superstar Rajnikanth. It is no secret that Vijay nurses political ambitions, and, in fact, he is reverentially called Ilayadalapathy (Junior Commander). And Thalaivaa, which means Leader, might have caused a bit of worry in the power corridors of Chennai.)

Though the original Hindi version of Madras Café has been cleared for public screening by the Central Board of Film Certification, two groups have said that they would not let the movie play in Tamil Nadu.

Seeman of Naam Tamizhar argued that Madras Café appeared like a film made by Sri Lankan President Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa. For, the movie merely maligns leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Prabhakaran. It says nothing about the brutality of the Sri Lankan army on Tamils and their freedom struggle.

Vaiko of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, another pro-Tamil party, is also for a ban on Madras Café.

Film helmer RK Selvamani said in an interview to Firstpost: “It looks like a movie funded by Rajapaksa and directed by (India’s Congress Party president) Sonia Gandhi. I respect freedom of expression, but if it is only to justify the Government of India, it is not acceptable. It depicts Tamils as murderers. It is anti-Tamil. Every shot is a lie. The very first shot is wrong. It’s an effort to isolate Tamils.”

In response, Abraham’s defence has been plain naïve. He is certainly no match for these fiery Tamil politicians or political sympathisers. Naturally, Abraham is only an actor, and what does he known about the intrigues of political machinations.

However, while I agree that cinema must be responsible, it must be, at the same time, allowed to enjoy the freedom to express its point of view. After all, India prides itself as a democracy and it must, therefore, permit all points of views to be aired.

Above all, the nation must have the ability to accept them.

Crowd censoring

Sircar and Abraham have the right to make a film which may be supportive of the Sri Lankan government (run by the island’s majority Sinhala community; Tamils form the minority race there).

Also, I must state here that I have seen movies made by Sri Lankan directors that have been openly critical of Prabhakaran and his methods, which included recruitment of child soldiers and pioneering, along with Hamas, suicide bombing. He was also guilty of killing some of those — even in his own organisation – who opposed him. These are well known facts.

Of course, Prabhakaran had a great and noble dream, of creating an independent State for Tamils in Sri Lanka. Somewhere along the way, this dream turned into a nightmare. For him and for others.

Coming back to cinema, I think it is unfair that producers, directors and actors be subjected to, what The Hindu headlines its editorial, “Crowd censoring”.

Sadly, this has been happening too often, not just in Tamil Nadu, but also in other parts of the country.

I could never understand why some Hindu nationalist outfits felt so peeved over the fact that India-born Canadian helmer Deepa Mehta was making a film on the widows of Vrindavan in the central Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. She and her team were chased out of Varanasi, where they were ready to shoot the movie titled Water.

For decades, these poor hapless old widows have led a horribly wretched existence in Vrindavan, and everybody knows about them. But who cared or cares, least of all the Hindu groups which were ready to shout and scream just because a movie was being made on the subject.

In the end, a film cannot be banned because there is a fear, perceived or otherwise, that it will cause a law and order problem. There is a clear Supreme Court ruling on this.

And the Madras High Court has not stayed the release of the Hindi version of Madras Café. (The one dubbed in Tamil is yet to be censored.) But, unfortunately, theatres in Chennai have not scheduled the movie for Aug 23, its date of opening.

It would have been prudent for Madras Café to have begun playing and to have allowed people to watch it and make their own judgment.

Gautaman Bhaskaran is India Editor of FMT, and Chennai-based author, columnist and movie critic. He may be emailed atgautamanb@hotmail.com

Raanjhanaa banned in Pakistan. Even a Filmy love between Hindu Boy and Muslim Girl is not allowed in Pakistan.

Pakistan Bans Movie Showing Hindu-Muslim Love Affair. Why should we show our love with Pakistan and Muslims?

Upananda Brahmachari | Hindu Existence News Bureau | 3 July 2013:: Sonam Kapoor, Dhanush’s Raanjhanaa has been banned in Pakistan. The Pakistan Film Censor Board has banned the exhibition of actor Dhanush and actress Sonam Kapoor starrer Raanjhanaa because of its alleged “controversial theme of love affairs between a Muslim girl and Hindu Boy”.

Chief Executive Officer of IMGC Global Entertainment Amjad Rasheed, the importer of Raanjhanaa in Pakistan told that he received a letter from CBFC (The Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan) with directives to shelve the film’s release. “The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl [played by Sonam Kapoor] falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him”, as the statement reached to the press.

Earlier the Censor Board had also banned films like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, ‘GI Joe’, ‘Agent Vinod’ for their controversial themes and “anti-Pakistan” sentiments.

Rasheed said that he received a letter from CBFC with directives to shelve the film’s release.

“The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl (played by Sonam Kapoor) falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him.”

The Bollywood film’s plot portrays Muslim girl Zoya (Sonam) falling in love with Kundan (Dhanush) and later Jasjeet Singh (Abhey Deol). The film starts with Hindu Brahmin pundit’s son Kundan falling for Zoya at first sight. He follows her to school, after school, in the market — almost everywhere. After getting slapped 16 times by Zoya, Kundan finally gets to know her name, but his hesitation that she will reject him because of his religion leads him to introduce himself as Rizwan. She agrees to meet him behind a temple, but the meeting does not turn out well as Zoya finds out that he’s Hindu.

As the story unfolds, Zoya also develops feelings for Kundan, however, her parents find out about it and send her off to Delhi in order to protect the family’s honour. Later in Delhi, Zoya falls in love with Jasjeet Singh, a student leader who also leads a political party.

Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal has also lent his voice for the title track of the film, composed by music maestro AR Rahman.

While the persecution upon Hindus and specially upon Hindu Girls are very much high, then such ban upon a film describing the heart of Muslim girl longing for Hindu boy is showing the fundamental attitudes of the Pakistan Govt and its agencies attached in the cultural and public relation affairs. Even, a Filmy love between Hindu Boy and Muslim Girl is not allowed in Pakistan. On the other hand, the Pak administration and agencies are not at all sincere to stop abduction, conversion, forceful marriage, rape and other crimes against Hindu and other minority girls and women in Pakistan.

In India, the Bollywood film industry is now overwhelmed with the series of projected star Muslim Khan progenies only to take care and ??? the Hindu actresses like in silver screen and in real life also. Every body knows the present story of SRK-Gouri, SAK-Kareena, Amir K-Kiran, Imran K-Avatika, Irrfan K-Sutapa, Fradeen K-Natasha, Zayed K- Malaika Parekh, Sohail K- Seema, Arbaz K-Malaika Arora and so on.

The Love Jihadists in Bollywood are very much active for their agenda to grab the industries and the star families with a staunch activation of film making (with the help of ‘D’ Company) by making script of love story between Muslim boy and Hindu girls in film and finally entering a wedlock with a pretty Hindu girl of film, sports or other industrialist world.

But these love jihadists in Indian film industries never contemplate to tie up a relation with any Hindu boys for their sisters or daughters. Nor the victim Hindu girls and women think to arrange marriage for their brothers with Muslim girls.

The sense of liberal attitude in India starts from lending Hindu interest to the Muslim conspirators even in the entertainment world. The reverse is rarely present and we are succumbing a permissiveness at the cost of easy prey to absurd Hindu-Muslim unity through film making and getting blasted by the same jihadists in Mumbai time and again.

We have forgotten a Dilip Kumar who suppressed his Muslim name (Yusuf Khan) to rise in his film career once and all the Muslim actress like Nargis, Waheeda Rehman, Madhubala (Mumtaz Jahan Dehlavi), Mumtaz, Saira Banu, Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi to fall in the personality and wild attraction of Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor, , Pradeep Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand, Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra or Amitabh Bacchan in the row.

The difference between the past and present is not made suddenly. The Pan Islamic terminators entered into Bollywood industries to ran over the Hindu sentiments, if any and to take supreme control of it by spreading a single message of ”Muslims are Mightier than Hindus and Hindu Girls and Women are the subject to the Muslims”, not the reverse. Subtle fundamentalists like Javed Akhtar, Sabana Azmi, Ameer Khan etc. are playing a very dangerous role to promote Islam and Islamic influence in very sphere in life including the film industries. These agents of Allah have the time to collect donations to raise funds for the flood victim of Pakistan. But, have you heard any thing that these maroons are doing something for the 50,000 victims of Kedarnath and Uttarkhand disaster in any manner? Why they should do anything for the Hindu infidels?

In this juncture of banning of the movie Raanjhanaa in Pakistan, we can do at least two things.

1. Hindus must ban all films starring by a Muslim Hero, story in film depicting love story between Muslim boy and Hindu Girl, rejecting products tagging advertisement by Muslim stars here and make awareness about the danger of Love Jihad before Hindu girls and women with top priority. and

2. Stop all relations and business with Pakistan.

Censor Board bans Raanjhanaa in Pakistan

CEO IMGC Global Entertainment says a letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

KARACHI: Bollywood movie Raanjhanaa has been banned by the Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan shortly before its scheduled release, for its ‘controversial plot’. Previously, the Censor Board also banned films including Ek Tha Tiger, G.I Joe and Agent Vinod for “anti-Pakistan” sentinements.

Chief Executive Officer of IMGC Global Entertainment Amjad Rasheed, the importer of Raanjhanaa, told The Express Tribune that he received a letter from CBFC with directives to shelve the film’s release. “The letter from CBFC states that the film portrays an inapt image of a Muslim girl [played by Sonam Kapoor] falling in love with a Hindu man and having an affair with him.”

Anand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa’s release in Pakistan was scheduled during the last week of June. Pakistani singer Shiraz Uppal has also lent his voice for the title track of the film, composed by AR Rehman.

The Bollywood film’s plot portrays Muslim girl Zoya (Sonam) falling in love with Kundan (Dhanush) and later Jasjeet Singh (Abhey Deol). The film starts with pundit’s Hindu Brahmin son Kundan falling for Zoya at first sight. He follows her to school, after school, in the market — almost everywhere. After getting slapped 16 times by Zoya, Kundan finally gets to know her name, but his hesitation that she will reject him because of his religion leads him to introduce himself as Rizwan. She agrees to meet him behind a temple, but the meeting does not turn out well as Zoya finds out that he’s Hindu.

As the story unfolds, Zoya also develops feelings for Kundan, however, her parents find out about it and send her off to Delhi in order to protect the family’s honour. Later in Delhi, Zoya falls in love with Jasjeet Singh, a student leader who also leads a political party.

Raanjhanaa grossed INR1.31 billion in its second week of release.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2013.

Ministry Willing To Assist Tamil Theatre - Maglin

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry is prepared to assist Tamil by providing financial assistance, teaching force, equipment and training.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz, said the assistance would be provided to help it to produce more creative works, as well as scout for new talents in the industry.

"Tamil theatre is scare now. The young generation prefers to watch movies and see Tamil drama on websites and compact discs.

"Therefore, to promote Tamil theatre, especially in Malaysia, we are prepared to to provide the necessary assistance, as well as market them to international markets," he told reporters after watching a Tamil theatre performance , 'The Countdown Begins' here Friday night.

He also said various incentives were also provided by the government to develop the local creative industry, like the setting up of the 1Malaysia Artiste Foundation, tax exemption for films and group insurance for local artistes.

The theatre, 'The Countdown Begins', directed by local Tamil director Allabas Abdul Karim, is about the lives of 10 tenants, who are from various backgrounds, staying together in a house.

Vishwaroopam screening on Thursday

The Lotus Five Star Group will start screening the movie on Feb 28 but did not say how many cuts were made.

PETALING JAYA: Tamil film fans can finally watch Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam this week.

Lotus Five Star Group’s programming manager, P Gopal confirmed this to FMT today.

“A special screening will be held on Wednesday. The movie would be shown nationwide from Thursday (Feb 28) onwards,” he said.

Details on the special screening have not been confirmed yet but he said that the special screening was open to the public.

Gopal was however evasive when asked on the number of cuts in the movie.

“That has been reported in the media. Why ask about that now?” he said.

Vishwaroopam, a Kamal Haasan spy-thriller, was first screened on Jan 25. However, it was suspended the following day due to opposition from Indian Muslim groups that claimed the movie was insensitive to the feelings of the Muslims.

The Home Ministry suspended the movie after receiving protest memorandums from Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and Federation of Indian Muslim Organisations (Permim).

The suspension did no go down well with the Indian community. Even members of civil societies such as National Laureate A Samad Said questioned the rationale in suspending the movie.

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen described Malaysia as a coward nation in her micro-blogging site.

Following negotiations, Lotus Five Star and the protesting Indian Muslim groups agreed to 16 cuts in the movie.

Vishwaroopam gets the green light, finally

The approval is given with the condition that the distributor agrees with additional cuts to the movie, says the National Film Censorship Board.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: After a hiatus of three weeks, the National Film Censorship Board (LPF) today finally gave the green light to screen Vishwaroopam with immediate effect.

“Islamic Development Department’s (Jakim) director- general has agreed with the Home Ministry on screening the movie after they were satisfied with the cuts done by LPF.

“The approval is given with the condition that the distributor agrees with additional cuts to the movie.

“The rescind on the suspension of the movie is effective from today,” LPF chairman Raja Azahar Raja Abdul Manap said in a statement today.

Vishwaroopam, a Kamal Haasan spy-thriller, was first screened on Jan 25. However, it was suspended the following day due to opposition from Indian Muslim groups that claimed the movie was insensitive to the feelings of the Muslims.

The Home Ministry suspended the movie after receiving protest memorandums from Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and Federation of Indian Muslim Organisations (Permim).

The suspension did no go down well with the Indian community. Even members of civil societies such as National Laureate A Samad Said questioned the rationale in suspending the movie.

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen described Malaysia as a coward nation in her micro-blogging site.

MIC strategy director S Vell Paari even invited Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to watch the movie at a cinema belonging to the local distributor, Lotus Five Star.

MIC organised a meeting with a number of Indian Muslim NGOs that opposed the screening with Lotus Five Star where they agreed to mute 16 sensitive scenes.

In the meantime, Home Ministry formed a special panel made up of the LPF and Jakim that had two meetings to study the movie.

Distributor to decide screening date

In an immediate reaction, Vell Paari asked what was the Home Ministry trying to achieve since pirated copies of Vishwaroopam were sold openly.

“While the ban was imposed on Vishwaroopam by the Home Ministry, what did the ministry do to stop piracy?

“Where was the ministry’s eagerness to stop piracy that was seen when it stopped the screening of the movie?” he asked.

He said the sensitivities of the Muslims were not taken care of due to the proliferation of the uncensored copies of the movie.

He also questioned groups which were unhappy with his stand in support of Vishwaroopam.

“I am also very surprised with some representatives of Indian Muslim NGOs that objected to the initially approved version but were silent on the sale of unedited pirated copies of the movie. It would at least help the local Malay film industry,” he said.

In a related development, Lotus Five Star programming manager P Gopal said that his company is awaiting for LPF’s report before deciding on the screening date.

“We have not received LPF’s report yet. We would decide once we receive it,” he said.

BN’s Vishwaroopam is getting ugly

Stop just looking at the bigger agenda. BN and Najib must also know how to sort out the smaller issues if they want to win over voters.
COMMENT

By K.Kabilan

(Vishwaroopam in Tamil means the true face. It is also the title of a Tamil blockbuster which is still awaiting release in Malaysia due to its supposedly controversial theme.)

Sometimes one does wonder if the government is really concerned about the peoples’ wishes. Is it even listening to what the people are saying?

It appears as though the government is more interested in doing things which it thinks will be good for the rakyat.

Najib Tun Razak’s earlier clarion call that his government was not one which subscribed to “government knows it all” seems like a half-baked lie right now.

Take, for example, the decision to fly down South Korean megastar Psy for the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year open house in Penang. A cool RM3 million was reportedly spent for this.

Of course, it was not the rakyat’s money as the Gangnam ride was reportedly sponsored by private parties. Still, that much for a singer who has only one known mega hit? And at a time when people are complaining of not getting real value for their money?

What about the Ponggal festival at Dataran Merdeka on Feb 2? Of course, it was deemed to be a mega success, by MIC standards. It would surely be if RM5 million was reportedly set aside to get the crowd.

Word has it that almost 1,400 buses were chartered to bring in Indians to the capital city to show that they all love our prime minister. In return, they did get a full meal of nasi briyani, courtesy of the BN government.

Is this how Najib wants to get the people to back him and BN again? This method seems so archaic, but it must be working for them to be doing it repeatedly!

But it goes back to the main question once again. Isn’t Najib interested in what the people really want? Does the rakyat still want the government to dictate what’s good for them?

The death of a security guard

Two ongoing issues reveal how ignorant the government can be in misreading the pulse of the voters, especially the Indian voters that Najib wants so much.

The first is the death of security guard C Sugumaran who died after allegedly being beaten by policemen and members of the public on Jan 24.

The first post-mortem stated that he had succumbed to a heart failure. The family wants a second post-mortem and that’s where things have started to break down.

Sugumaran’s body still lies in a mortuary while his family wants the know the true cause of his death. Very simple request. Any caring government, or a home minister, or prime minister, would have made the all-important call so that truth and justice are served.

But what we have here is the prime minister asking for a forensic report to be passed to him, and then even 10 days later, making no decision on the matter. In the meantime, the home minister sits quietly, letting the police handle the matter.

The police, on their part, want to follow rules and regulations to the letter while not doing anything conclusive at all.

It’s a merry-go-round with a family still waiting for answers, and closure as a result of the death.

Is there an easier way to solve this problem? Yes, there is. It is actually as easy as Najib going to the local radio stations and trying to impress the Chinese voters with his Mandarin. But will he take the easy way to solve this problem? I doubt it!

The movie ban

The second small issue, but one that may have deeper implications as far as the Indian voters are concerned, is the indecisiveness of the Home Ministry on the status of Tamil movie “Vishwaroopam”.

Is it still banned? If yes, why? If not, why hasn’t it been released? Who has been aggrieved by the movie? Why the delay in allowing it to be shown even as it has been approved for release in Tamil Nadu?

Is this a case of the home minister sitting in the dark, not knowing the full details? Or is it a case of him knowing the full details but keeping the movie in the cans for political reasons? Should there be political reasons for movie releases in the first place?

This looks like another case where BN is making things complicated for itself.

By keeping totally mum on the status of Vishwaroopam, the government’s message to the Indian community seems to be this: enjoy the song and dance performances that we give you, enjoy the food that we provide at these events, clap hard to the various promises that we make, smile proudly when the PM utters a word of Tamil here and there, BUT stop making any demands, even if it concerns only a Tamil movie!

You still think people will fall for these? Hmmm!

To win the hearts and minds of the people, the leaders, from the prime minister right down to his platoon chiefs, must show that they trully care for the people. The moment they slip up and show that it’s all a political game for them, that’s the end really.

Missing the wood for the trees, they say. Be careful, Mr Prime Minister, if you miss the small details, you risk losing the big votes.

Pirated CDs of Vishwaroopam out

Puzzled fans are demanding that Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein explain the continued ban on Vishwaroopam.

GEORGE TOWN: The banned Kamal Haasan blockbuster spy-thriller Vishwaroopam is allegedly now available as pirated CDs.

The uncensored and crystal clear version, which is being sold secretly at RM15, has however left diehard Kamal Haasan fans here livid.

They want want Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain why the censored version of the movie was still being banned in cinema halls while pirated CDs were making its way into households.

“Why has the Home Ministry not heeded our call to lift the ban on Vishwaroopam?

“Is the government tacitly backing sales of pirated CDs on the banned movie?

“Is the government gaining tax revenue from sales of pirated CDs?” asked Penang Kamal Haasan Fans Club president S Mahendran after leading a 20-minute protest outside the Penang Odeon cinema today.

The fans, who held a similar demonstration last week, reiterated their call on the Home Ministry to immediately lift the ban.

Written, co-produced and directed by Kamal Haasan, Vishwaroopam’s screening was banned in local cinema halls on Jan 25, a day after it opened following complaints to the Home Ministry by Indian Muslim groups.

The groups have alleged that the movie contained scenes and dialogues undermining Muslims and Islam.

The Malaysian ban followed bans in Singapore and in Tamil Nadu.

However, the movie, after several cuts on alleged “sensitive” scenes and dialogues, has resumed screening in Singapore and in Tamil Nadu.

Malaysia now is the only country banning it.

Local film distributors and cinema hall operators were hopeful that Vishwaroopam will be allowed screening this week after the movie underwent 16 scene-cuts.

But this did not materialise.

Fans puzzled

Meanwhile it was learnt that Hishamuddin has refused to meet with local distributors on the issue yesterday.

Penang Odeon manager A Mohan Dass said Tamil movie fans were calling the cinema hall daily to know when the movie will be screened.

He said fans were puzzled as to why the movie was being banned in Malaysia when it was being screened all over the world.

“It’s sheer hypocrisy. It defeats the whole purpose of the ban,” chided Mohan Dass.

Critics have argued the ban on Vishwaroopam was detrimental against freedom of artistic expression and cine professionalism.

They also criticised the Home Ministry for being inconsistent in protecting religious sensitivities of various communities in the country as it did not ban movies such as ‘Love Guru’, which hurt Hindu sentiments, and ‘The Da Vinci Code’, which allegedly questioned the fundamental myth of Christianity.

They have insisted that the movie illustrated the reality of international terrorism and its operations, and did not hurt religious sentiments.

‘Vishwaroopam’ to screen with 16 ‘cuts’

Former MIC vice-president S Veerasingam urged Hindus to be calm saying the Indian Muslim community had not demanded a ban of the movie.

KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial Tamil movie “Vishwaroopam”, directed and produced by famous Indian actor Kamal Hassan, is poised for release in Malaysia soon.

The decision to air the movie was made after a meeting between distributors Lotus Five Star Sdn Bhd, represen tatives from a coalition of 60 Indian-Muslim NGOs and MIC officials today.

The meeting agreed to mute 16 scenes in the three-hour movie. Prior to the ban, the movie had nine scenes muted.

The ban came about after some Indian Muslims staged a protest against “Vishwaroopam” for having scenes offensive to Muslims.

Speaking on behalf of Lotus Five Star, former MIC vice-president S Veerasingam said the distributor hoped that the Home Ministry would revoke the ban imposed on the movie.

“Initially Lotus had muted nine scenes. Now it will mute another seven scenes. In total, 16 scenes will be muted. It will be similar to what is shown in Tamil Nadu, India,” Veerasingam told a press conference here.

Also present were MIC strategy director S Vell Paari and the Coalition of Indian-Muslim NGOs leader Mohd bin Kader Ali.

Veerasingam, however, did not specify when the movie would be released.

“The distributor has to send the muted version of the movie to the Censor Board for a second review. Only after we get their go-ahead can we screen the movie. So, it will take some time before the movie hits the screen,” he said.

“Vishwaroopam” was released on Dec 24 and was screened at theatres here. However, the movie was banned by the Home Ministry the very next day after a group of Indian Muslims staged a protest against it.

Veerasingam, meanwhile, also urged Malaysian Hindus not to be too emotional over the banning of the movie as the Muslim NGOs never asked the movie to be banned.

“They never asked the movie to be banned, instead they wanted some scenes cut from it. We as Hindus need to respect their religion,” said Veerasingham.

He also said MIC will arrange a tripartite meeting with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to revoke the ban on the movie.

Now, Mani Ratnam’s ‘Kadal’ in trouble

(Agencies) - CHENNAI: After the ‘Vishwaroopam’ row, now Christian groups have filed a complaint against Mani Ratnam’s ‘Kadal’, claiming that it is anti-Christian.

The Indian Christian Democratic Party on Monday filed a complaint with police commissioner S George against the film. They alleged the film had objectionable scenes referring to Christianity and sought their deletion. They warned of intensified protests if police did not initiate action.

Christudas, a representative of the organisation, told reporters that the filmmaker had hurt the sentiments of the people belonging to the Christian community. “We have demanded that the director remove scenes which hurt sentiments of the Christian community. They should take action against the director if the scenes are not immediately removed,” he said.

Such scenes will give wrong ideas about the religion, he added. ‘Kadal’, was released on February 1. Actors Arjun and Aravind Samy are in the lead roles besides Gautham and Thulasi, children of yesteryear stars Karthik and Radha.

Another Christian group lodged a complaint with the chief secretary demanding to ban the movie ‘Adhibhagavan’ as it hurts Hindu sentiments.

Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’ had faced hurdles after Muslim groups objected to it claiming the film offended their sentiments. The state government had banned it, following which Kamal moved the Madras high court.

Kamal and the Muslim outfits arrived at a compromise at a government-brokered meeting on Saturday. Following this, the actor withdrew his petition on Monday against the ban and announced that the tri-lingual 100-crore movie would be released in Tamil Nadu on February 7.

Vishwaroopam ban lifted

Kamal Haasan addressing the media at his Alwarpet residence in Chennai. File photo: R. Ragu

A day after an accord was reached between actor Kamal Haasan and Muslim organisations, the authorities on Sunday ordered lifting of the ban on screening the Tamil film, Vishwaroopam, in Tamil Nadu.

In Chennai, the ban, imposed under Section 144 of the Cr. PC, was lifted by Police Commissioner S. George, while in other parts of the State, it was left to Collectors to do so.

Mr. George told The Hindu that “we have assessed the situation. As the two parties have arrived at an understanding, we are sure that there will not be any agitation. Hence we have revoked the ban.”

• The Hindu Kamal Haasan addressing the media at his Alwarpet residence in Chennai. File photo: R. Ragu
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  The Hindu Even as the ban on Vishwaroopam is lifted in Tamil Nadu, the movie has been drawing Kamal Haasan fans to Sree Dhanalakshmi theatre in Velanthavalam, a Kerala town located less than a kilometer from the the inter-State border. Photo: K. Ananthan
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Cinema halls in Chennai attacked

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  While AGS Cinemas suffered the maximum damage, a few other cinema halls in north Chennai too, witnessed violence and vandalism on Wednesday — Photo: K. Pichumani

On Wednesday morning, many cinema halls — mostly in North Chennai — that displayed banners of the controversial Kamal Haasan-starrer Vishwaroopam were attacked

The first incident took place at AGS Cinemas near Villivakkam bus terminus when a group came to enquire if the movie would be screened.

“We said we would not plan the release of the movie without getting an official word from the State Theatre Owners Association. But the group returned in a while and damaged the front glass, the canteen and the box office. They also tore a banner of the movie displayed outside,” said Archana Kalpathi, CEO of AGS Cinemas.

A police team led by deputy commissioner of police (Anna Nagar) Prem Anand Sinha reached the spot and carried out a preliminary probe.

The police said the attackers may have assumed the film would be screened on Wednesday following the Madras High Court lifting the initial ban imposed by the State government.

While AGS Cinemas suffered the maximum damage, a few other cinema halls in north Chennai, including Maharani, Bharat and MM, witnessed stone throwing and vandalising of posters and banners of the movie on their premises.

There were incidents of banner tearing and stone throwing in some halls in Central Chennai like Albert, Pilot and Devi theatres.

The situation remained tensed in most cinema halls in the city until Wednesday afternoon as Kamal fans gathered in the cinema halls.

A posse of police personnel were posted in the halls to prevent further incidents.

However, in the afternoon, the first bench of the Madras High Court set aside the order of a single judge passed on Tuesday night staying the ban imposed by the State government on the movie.

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  While AGS Cinemas suffered the maximum damage, a few other cinema halls in north Chennai too, witnessed violence and vandalism on Wednesday — Photo: K. Pichumani 
   
   

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