HC bench stops Vishwaroopam, stray violence mars screening

Not knowing that the drama over the release of the film had not ended, hundreds of fans thronged theatres across the state much before daybreak to watch it on Wednesday morning. But most theatre owners soon realised that it would not be possible to show the film as police and revenue authorities asked them to present a copy of the verdict by the single judge delivered late on Tuesday, without which the status quo was to be maintained.

At a few places including Erode and Nagapattinam districts, the show was stopped after a little while under instructions of officials. At Ramanathapuram district, petrol bombs were hurled at a theatre, while in Coimbatore, police reportedly recovered some petrol bombs suspected to be kept to attack theatres screening Vishwaroopam.

In Chennai, a theatre had to stop the screening after a group barged in and started damaging property. A banner of the film at another Chennai theatre was set on fire.

Though it was the ire of Muslim organisations that was initially cited as a reason for stalling the release, the adamant attitude of the state government, going as far as approaching the acting chief justice at his residence at midnight to prevent the release, has come under scrutiny.

Twists & turns in the plot

January 3: Theatre owners, film distributors in Tamil Nadu oppose film release, protest against new business plan to premiere film on DTH platform a day ahead of theatre release on Jan 11

Jan 10: Kamal postpones film release to Friday, January 25, with an eye on the long weekend

Jan 21: Organises special screening for leaders of Muslim organisations who said the film has anti-Muslim content

Jan 23: State government orders a two-week ban on film's screening

Jan 24: Kamal moves Madras HC against government order

... contd.

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