Chennai: The controversy surrounding actor John Abraham’s bilingual flick ‘Madras Cafe’ assumed more political overtones on Wednesday, with BJP asking Congress to respond to “opinions” that the film had its backing and sought a national ban against it, warning of “unwanted consequences” subsequent to its release.
The spy thriller “demeaned” Tamils by portraying them as terrorists while supporting Sri Lanka, BJP’s state unit president Pon Radhakrishnan said.
“It is condemnable that those not aware of truth behind the difficulties and miseries of Sri Lankan Tamils are making movies supporting Sri Lanka while portraying Tamils as terrorists. Congress has to respond to opinions that the film has been made with the party’s support and blessings of the Congress (led UPA) Central government,” he said.
He said the issue came at a time when all political parties in the state are demanding that India stay away from the November Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka, in the backdrop of the emotive Tamils issue.
“It is believed that the film’s release will result in unwanted consequences. Therefore, BJP insists that the movie should not be released in any part of the country for reasons whatsoever,” Radhakrishnan said in a statement reiterating that CHOGM should not be held in Colombo.
If the meeting was held there, India should not be represented, he added.
Meanwhile, students of a city law college staged a protest here against the August 23 release of the film.
They submitted a complaint to police against its release and also sought a ban on the film, which they claimed portrayed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in bad light.
Abraham’s second production venture, ‘Madras Cafe’ had courted controversy with pro-Tamil groups going up in arms against the film for its depiction of outlawed LTTE allegedly in negative light.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi had urged the state government to ascertain if such charges were true and take appropriate action.
MDMK chief Vaiko and Naam Thamizhar Katchi leader Seeman have already sought a ban on the film starring Abraham as an Indian intelligence agent in Sri Lanka during the civil war between government and LTTE in late 80s and early 90s.
Naam Thamizhar Katchi had in July given a complaint to police, demanding that the film not be released in the state, citing possible law and order problems.
John Abraham has refused to delete any scene from ‘Madras Cafe,’ wondering why anyone had a problem with the film when the Censor Board had cleared it.
PTI
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