Kamal Haasan moves Competition Commission on 'Vishwaroopam'

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has moved fair trade regulator Competition Commission against some theatre associations for allegedly restricting the release of his film 'Vishwaroopam'.

This is the second instance in less than three months after Ajay Devgn that an eminent film personality has lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission of India.

"We have received a complaint from Kamal Haasan (related to Viswaroopam)," a senior CCI official said.

The complaint, filed this week, is against some theatre associations for allegedly restricting the release of the film, the official said.

Actor-director Haasan's production house Rajkamal Films International has moved the fair trade regulator.

"We are likely to take a call on the issue next week," the CCI official said.

A spokesperson for Haasan did not immediately respond to queries seeking comments on the issue.

Rajkamal Films had scheduled the release of the film first on DTH platform on January 10. In the wake of vehement opposition from various theatre associations, the DTH release was shelved and the movie would now hit the theatres first on January 25 in 500 screens across Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association and Madurai-based Ramanathapuram United Film Distributors had threatened not to release it in theatres.

CCI looks into anti-competitive practices across sectors and the Tamil actor is believed to have complained against theatre associations forming a kind of cartel to restrict release of the film.

In November 2012, CCI had rejected cine star Ajay Devgn's complaint against Yash Raj Films (YRF) for alleged abuse of dominant position in Hindi film industry, as the regulator did not any violations of competition norms.

Ajay Devgn Films Pvt Ltd had alleged that YRF was using its dominant position to ask exhibitors to dedicate more screens to its upcoming release, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', than for release of his film 'Son of Sardaar' on November 13.

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