Vishwaroopam: A writ petition at AP HC against its screening

Hyderabad: Kamal Hassan's much-talked about movie Vishwaroopam has been courting new controversies ever since its makers planned for its release. The latest we hear that a city-based businessman Mohammed Haji has filed a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a ban on screening of the film. He claims that it hurts religious sentiments of Muslim community and screening of such movies is detrimental to social harmony.

In his petition, Mohammed Haji states that the film Vishwaroopam was anti-Islamic, blasphemous and hurts the religious sentiments of Muslim community. "In the movie, Muslims are shown in a manner which is highly offensive and objectionable. It is a direct assault on religious beliefs and sentiments of Muslims," the Times of India quotes Haji as saying.

Mohammed Haji has reportedly requested the Andhra Pradesh High Court to issue directions to AP government, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and Broadcasting Corporation of India (BCI) to ban the screening of movie Vishwaroopam and suspend its exhibition. The court is yet to admit his petition.

However, Telugu version of Vishwaroopam was to release in theatres in the city on January 25 and its screening got cancelled following its ban in Tamil Nadu. But its screening was resumed in the city on January 26, a day after it was suspended on order of police.