The first look of Kamal’s Vishwaroopam 2 which the filmmaker-actor put out on Tuesday shows him embracing the Indian flag. His face has plaster covering his cheek.
That, considering the physical and emotional battering he has been through in recent months, is an image truly in character!
The ever-affable never-say-die actor-director laughs, “The injury is in continuity from part one of Vishwaroopam. The flag is an emblem of what the protagonist Wisam stands for.”
He recalls the problems he had to face for the first film’s release in 2013 —“Some states threatened to ban it — but it was only Tamil Nadu that actually went ahead and banned it. There was panic among theatre owners in TN because of the uncertainty, and I can’t blame them. Film exhibitors are like any business on the streets. If there is a war they’ll pack up and leave. When there is a riot, they’ll shut shop.”
During the release, Muslim organisations had objected to portions of the film. Says Kamal — “I wonder where these groups were when I was being attacked for Hey Ram 17 years ago. At that time, my film was a threat to the saffron colour. In Vishwaroopam it was the colour green! Only the colour challenges. The pattern of illogical protest remains the same. I am against any kind of terrorism, whatever its colour is: green, saffron or khaki. I love all Indians, regardless of religion.”
The actor promises the sequel to Vishwaroopam would be even more politically provocative — “You will see many more layers to my character — the sequel will be even more volatile.We’d get into my character’s antecedents. The highlight of the sequel would be Jaideep Ahlawat.”
The film also has the legendary Waheeda Rehman playing Kamal’s mother. The enchanting actress, who regaled us with her nimble dancing in Vijay Anand’s Guide 50 years ago, will be seen again as a Bharatanatyam dancer in Vishwaroopam 2. The last time Waheeda was seen dancing was the Mujra in Gulzar’s Namkeen 37 years ago!
In Kamal’s movie, she would be seen as she looked in her Guide days, thanks to the marvels of technology. The ever-innovative Kamal has morphed Waheeda’s face from her heyday onto a young Bharatanatyam dancer’s torso in the dance scenes!
The role of an aging classical dancer is a pivotal one of Kamal Haasan’s mother. The actor-director was very keen that Vyjanthimala do the part. But she resolutely turned him down. It was then that Waheeda Rehman slipped into the picture.
