Vishwaroopam: Jaya offers to broker peace, Haasan 'grateful'

Facing criticism over the Vishwaroopam controversy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said on Thursday that her government was ready to "facilitate" an "amicable agreement" between filmmaker Kamal Haasan and Muslim organisations.

"If the leaders of the Muslim organisations and Kamal Haasan can sit together and work out an amicable agreement, the Tamil Nadu government will do everything possible to facilitate that," she said, adding that she has "no personal grudge" against the actor.

Hours after Jaya's statement, Haasan thanked her and ruled out moving the Supreme Court for now. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he said: "I thank the Chief Minister. I am grateful to her... now that she has helped us why should we go (to the Supreme Court)."

Haasan said he would wait for the Madras High Court order. "We have to respect the law," he said. Elaborating on his earlier remark, Haasan said: "In anger...in emotional outburst, I would have said that I will leave the country. It does not mean I will do it... I enjoy the glory and fame. But if this happens again, I will seriously think of leaving." He claimed that the delay in the release of his film may have cost him anything between Rs 30-60 crore.

Meanwhile, leaders of various Muslim organisations also welcomed Jaya's initiative and indicated their willingness to call off their protest if Haasan agreed to delete certain parts of the film.

Sources said the representatives of Haasan's production banner, Rajkamal Films International, and Muslim leaders are likely to discuss the matter at a meeting to be convened by the state home secretary.

Jaya today blamed Haasan for not making any efforts to resolve the crisis at an early stage. She said her first priority was to maintain law and order, for which preventive action had to be taken to ensure that the protests did not turn violent.

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