On a day of dramatic developments, actor Kamal Haasan suffered a setback on when the Madras High Court stayed the release of Vishwaroopam in Tamil Nadu even as he agreed to make changes in deference to Muslim sentiments while threatening to exile himself from the State.

The relief given to the actor by Justice K. Venkataraman late Tuesday was short lived as a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna Jagadeesan quashed it, effectively stalling its release on Wednesday.

The two-member bench posted the case for hearing next Wednesday. While the 58-year-old actor’s lawyer earlier indicated that they may challenge the decision, his brother Chandra Haasan said they would wait till next Wednesday to decide the next course of action.

Some theatres including one in suburban Villivakkam and another in Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram, which had started showing the film before the order came, were attacked. A petrol bomb was thrown at a theatre in Paramakudi.

Even as the judicial proceedings were on, an emotional Haasan addressed a press conference (listen to the audio file) in which he threatened to leave Tamil Nadu in search of a “secular” place, citing M.F. Hussain’s exile.

“…But I believe that along with my Muslim friends, I have been instrument in a political game. I don’t know who is playing and not even hazarding the guess. The fact remains that my history has proven that I have been neither leaning to the left or right but trying to maintain my position,” Haasan said.

He said he has pledged all his property including the house where he grew and where he was holding the press conference and that he would go bankrupt if his lenders takeover these properties in case of a delay in the release of the film.

Moments before the High Court order came, Haasan met some Muslim representatives led by Congress MP J.M. Haroon and announced that he had agreed to remove scenes regarding the Holy Quran in deference to their sentiments.

“With this any differences between me and the Muslim community and my Muslim friends have ceased,” Hassan said.

However, he hastened to add that he was getting disturbing reports about which he was worried.

He said the responsibility for the law and order fully rests with the government and the police and hoped that they would do their duty.COURTESY:THE HINDU