Kamal Haasan’s Film Vishwaroopam Cleared by Madras High Court

The Madras High Court on 29 January 2013 lifted ban on actor-director-co-producer Kamal Haasan’s film Vishwaroopam. The film was cleared by the high court for screening in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government sought two-week ban on the film on the grounds that there was need to provide protection to the communal harmony after certain Muslim groups accused that the film portrayed their community in a negative light.

Vishwaroopam was released abroad on 24 January 2013 and was also scheduled to be released in Telugu and Tamil on 25 January 2013. But its screening was curtailed because of the prohibitory orders. The Tamil Nadu Government told the high court of Madras that Vishwaroopam might lead to law and order problem resulting in endangered lives, breach of peace in the state as well as damage to the public property. However, Kamal Haasan, the actor-director explained that there was nothing objectionable about the film.

Additional solicitor-general for south India P Wilson told the Justice Venkataraman that film did not have any visuals or words that hurt sentiments of a community. Justifying the clearance of this film, he explained that the requirements of Cinematograph Act as well as the rules which were compiled by the censor board. The censor board had also issued the censor certificate for Vishwaroopam on 17 October 2012.