MUSLIM LEADERS URGE PM TO BAN SCREENING OF VISHWAROOPAM

By Muslim Mirror News,

 New Delhi, Jan. 27: A group of Muslim leaders tomorrow will give a joint letter to Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh seeking ban on the nationwide screening of the controversial movie Vishwaroopam – a creation of South India’s film star Kamal Hassan.

 

The Movement for Civil Rights has demanded the central government to impose an interim ban on the film prohibiting its release in cinema halls, on television via DTH, and order its re-examination by the censor board as there is a provision for this under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983 Section 32. The re-examination should end in deleting scenes promoting disharmony among Indians, defaming Muslims and the Holy Quran, Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan, Convener of Movement for Civil Rights said.

The film ‘Vishwaroopam’ was screened to Muslim leaders in a special preview show at Chennai on 21 January, 2013. The Muslim delegation was upset after seeing the film as it portrays Muslims and Islam in bad light. If the film is allowed to be screened in its present form, there is apprehension that general public may view any Muslim with a beard as a “terrorist” waiting for an opportunity to plant a bomb. The film gives the message that the Holy Qur’an is the root cause of terrorism. This is more than enough to hurt Islamic sentiments. It shows that the “Muslim” character in the film carries out each and every terror activity either after reading Holy Qur’an or while reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an. The film shows that Muslims are barbaric, that from Muslim children to elders, the entire community is terrorist.

“Vishwaroopam” was banned for two weeks in Tamil Nadu on January 24, 2013. The Tamil Nadu government decided to ‘suspend’ its release by a fortnight fearing violent backlash from Muslim outfits which said that it portrays their community as one breeding terror and hence demanded its ban. “Vishwaroopam” is scheduled for release in Telugu on 25 January and in Hindi on 1 February in other parts of the nation.

This is not the first incident where Kamal Haasan has committed an irresponsible act. In 1992, while Thevar Magan got into trouble for allegedly portraying the ‘Thevar’ community, a dominant caste in South Tamil Nadu, and identifying them with glorified violence, Virumaandi in 2004 was embroiled in controversy for similar reasons. The film, which was originally titled ‘Sandiyar’, drew flak and the team was forced to change it to ‘Virumaandi’. 

A joint letter seeking ban on the screening of the film ‘Vishwaroopam’ (Hindi, Tamil and Telugu) will be given to the Prime Minister of India on Monday 28th January 2013 on behalf of Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan (President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat),Hafiz Mazoor Ali Kha (National Gen Sec, Social Democratic Party of India),Maulana Abdul Wahab Khilji (President, All India Islahi Movement), Dr Basheer Ahmed Khan(National President, Indian Union Muslim League), Moulana Usman Baig (President, All India Imams Council),Dr Taslim Rahmani (President, Muslim Political Council of India),Mohamed Anisujjaman (National President, Campus Front of India), Ansar ul Haq (State President, Popular Front of India-Delhi),Maulana Ansar Raza Gharib Nawaz foundation, Irfanullah Khan (Convener, Jamia Nagar Coordination Committee) and various other leaders of Muslim community. A copy of the letter will also be given to Manish Tewari (Minister of State -independent charge, Ministry for Information and Broadcasting), Shiela Dikshit (Chief Minister of Delhi) and Tejendra Khanna (Lt. Governor, Delhi).

Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan (National Gen Sec, Social Democratic Party of India) said that “if the film is not banned and released in theatres or shown on Television through DTH the movement will use all means of democratic agitations and public awareness to oppose the film”.