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Joke on Rajinikanth removed

Superstar fans, Mandram members object to dig at their hero in Comali.

Rajini fans had taken so unkindly to a sly dig taken at the delay in his entering politics in the film Comali that the scene has been removed. Rajini fans as well as Rajini Makkal Mandram members mounted pressure on the makers of the Jayam Ravi starrer after seeing the scene in the trailer.

Ishari K Ganesh, who bankrolls the movie in his home banner Vels Film International, stated on Monday that the objectionable scene has been removed. His action came after the actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan personally intervened in the issue. The problem was sorted in an amicable manner, the producer claims.

Speaking to DC, Ishari Ganesh said, “I am a big fan of Rajini sir and acted with him in the film 2.O. Like anyone else, I am also awaiting Superstar's entry into politics. Comali is a family entertainer with loads of social messages. But, apparently, on my twitter handle, I saw postings of several fans of Rajinikanth sir who found the scene was not acceptable and requested me to remove it. Even Kamal sir spoke to me after watching the trailer of Comali and expressed his concern towards the scene. And both Rajini and Kamal are good friends of mine. Hence, after discussing with my hero Jayam Ravi and director Pradeep Ranganathan, I asked the team to remove the controversial scene from Comali.”

Deleting the particular scene would not technically affect the continuity of the film as the director has other footage to be incorporated in its place. “Comali will hit the marquee as planned on August 15,” the producer says.

In a two-minute trailer released recently, the lead actor Ravi's character, who had been in coma for 16 years, suddenly wakes up. His friends point a news clip playing on TV showing actor Rajinikanth promising his fans that he would be entering politics. On seeing the TV clip, Ravi's character asks his friends which year it was and his friends say it is 2016. Ravi says it is 1996. That was the year Rajini had made a political statement regarding the Jayalalithaa regime.

This did not go well with innumerable fans of Rajinikanth who started trending the hash tag #BoycottComali and #NaalayaTamilagamRajini' (Rajini is TN's future). They were also demanding an apology from Ravi and director of the film Pradeep Ranganathan.

Another point raised by Rajini Makkal Mandram members was that it was only in 2017 that Rajini had addressed his fans and announced his intention to enter mainstream politics. In the trailer of Comali, it says the video was released in 2016, which is wrong. So, it seems they are intentionally hurting our thalaivar”. His fans said.

Pradeep has also said that Comali is a fun-filled entertainer and that he is a big fan of Rajini sir. He said, “The story was narrated from the perspective of a coma patient, who gets reminded of 1996 when he observes the video of Rajinikath's political entry. It is his point-of-view in a lighter vein and not meant to hurt anyone.”

Comali has Kajal Aggarwal playing Jayam Ravi's romantic interest for the first time with Samyuktha Hegde as his pair in school segment. KS Ravikumar and Yogi Babu essay crucial roles.

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