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Kamal Hassan needs help
 The much-publicised Tamil movie 'Chandiyar', a film to be launched by actor Kamal Hassan, has unfortunately been dragged into a controversy immediately after the announcement of the mega project.
The leader of Pudhiya Tamizhagam, a caste-based political organisation in Tamil Nadu, Dr K Krishnasamy, had announced that he would not allow the shooting of the film in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. The reason given out by him was that the movie would encourage casteist tendencies and foster violence.
When actor Kamal Hassan sought protection for the shooting of the film from the Superintendent of Police, Theni District,
the latter refused to provide protection stating that he could not arrange for protection to the film shooting for three months with the meagre police force available at their disposal.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, going by this version of the SP, was also initially reluctant to spare a large section of the police force for film shooting.
Kamal Hassan, however, tackled the sensitive situation admirably. He maintained composure, refused to be drawn into any controversy. He recently met the Chief Minister and conveyed to her that his film was not aimed at generating controversy, caste clashes or violence. His explanation apparently convinced the Chief Minister.
Further, he also declared that he would not mind changing the title of the movie if there were objections to it.
The Chief Minister reportedly described as a good idea and Krishnasamy also welcomed the move. The film shooting would now commence without any hiccups, one hopes, since Kamal
Hassan is a brilliant film-maker and actor, who is not only the pride of Tamil Nadu but also of the entire country.
This is not the first time that Kollywood has had to face such challenges. Some months back, when Superstar Rajnikant's film 'Baba' was to be released, S Ramadoss, the leader of Pattali Makkal Katchi,
another caste-based organisation in Tamil Nadu, had threatened to picket theatres.
Agitations were held in front of theatres, particularly in northern Tamil Nadu, on the ground that 'Baba' posters were a bad influence on the youth as they promoted smoking of cigarettes.
Rajnikant made a conciliatory statement and the agitation was later withdrawn.
 What was conveniently forgotten was that Rajnikant introduced his own stylish version of cigarette smoking as early as in 1975 when he acted in his second film 'Moondru Mudichu'. In his subsequent films too, he was seen as a smoker and his style of tossing the cigarette into his mouth, even a lighted one, was greeted with cheers and whistles in many movies. Nearly three decades have passed. Was it necessary to disrupt his film 'Baba' considering that smoking was part and parcel of his 28-year-old career?
Except MGR, all the heroes have been seen smoking in films. Sivaji Ganesan too was considered a stylish smoker. Those scenes were never objected to. Why should Rajnikant alone be targeted, is a question which defies a logical answer.
To add insult to injury, another mega movie of another big star, Kamal Hassan, has now been dragged into a controversy. This time too by another politician.
Shooting for the film had not even started. Kamal Hassan and his unit alone knew the story of the film. In this context, on what basis did Krishnasamy protest, and how he could make such an accusation at this stage, cannot be comprehended.
There is no objection to posters of the successful film 'Sami' where hero Vikram is clearly seen wielding an aruvaal. There have been other films too where the hero is seen holding weapons like knives or guns.
Moreover, if at all, there has to be an objection to a film, it can only be at the time of censorship. The Board of Film Certification has the sole right and authority to allow or disallow any objectionable story or scene in any movie. It may not be a good precedent to allow politicians to take law into their own hands and dictate terms to the film industry.
What then is the fate of freedom of speech and expression, especially in a creative field like the film industry?
Is the film 'Chandiyar' alone responsible for caste violence? 'Nayagan' was not objected to. 'Devar Magan' too met with approval, not criticism. There were also films based on Gounders as central characters. Why didn't these politicians raise their protest against those movies? MGR had acted in a film called 'Malaikallan', Sivaji in 'Thirudan', Rajinikant in 'Pokkiri Raja', 'Billa' and 'Ranga'. Billa and Ranga were the names of two notorious criminals and yet the films were accepted.
How is the title 'Chandiyar' alone objectionable?
 A member from Kollywood observed that Krishnasamy has been a running a caste-based party and had time and again played the caste card. There have been occasions when his rallies ended in violence. He also observed that Krishnasamy himself is an accused in a murder case and therefore has no moral right to claim that the film would promote violence. Can the devil quote the scriptures, is his question.
The Tamil film industry can ill-afford controversies as it is in a precarious position already. The suicide of veteran producer G Venkateswaran, following heavy losses incurred in film production, is a reflection of the times. A Tamil film hero, who has acted in as many as 42 films as
hero, is in a state of bankruptcy, unable to even pay his house rent.
Due to the piracy from the VCD market, theatres are less crowded. Some theatres have closed down. Many workers in the film industry are starving for want of jobs. This is the time when there is need for all-round support to rejuvenate the Tamil film industry on which depend lakhs of employees right from technicians to attendants in parking lots.
These politicians should not add fuel to fire at this juncture.
The Government should also take steps to protect the Tamil film industry at times like these, especially since it gets of crores of rupees from the film industry by way of Entertainment Tax. Secondly, the Chief Minister herself has emerged from the film industry, and therefore it is natural for the industry to look upto her for relief, protection and support.
The threat of individuals, which could thwart and obstruct the film industry, should be put down with an iron hand. Politicians should not try to seek mileage through such such issues which would affect the lives of several lakhs of workers.
Harvey
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Published
on 30th June, 2003
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