HC lifts ban on Vishwaroopam; Govt challenges the order!

In a major relief to actor Kamal Haasan, the Madras High Court last night lifted the ban imposed on his movie Vishwaroopam by the Tamil Nadu government after it courted controversy over its alleged anti-Muslim content. But the government has challenged the order and the case will come up before the first bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday at 10.30 am.

After a day-long hearing, Justice K Venkataraman passed the orders, paving the way for the screening of the movie, which was reportedly made with a budget of nearly Rs 100 crore. "No doubt, for maintaining law and order, the authority competent is entitled to pass an order under Sec. 144 of Cr.PC, but that does not mean that a section of society can curtail the fundamental rights of a citizen," the judge said.

The strangest part of the story is that all district magistrates/collectors had taken a common decision and passed orders.

The movie starring Kamal Hassan, Pooja Kumar and Andrea Jeremiah unexpectedly landed in trouble on the eve of its release with the state government imposing 15 days ban after several Muslim groups accused the film of showing their community in a bad taste. Meanwhile, Vishwaroopam has been released in Karnataka after police offered full protection.