Chennai: With its producers deleting three scenes fiercely objected to by the AIADMK and information minister Kadambar Raju waving the green flag thereafter, the war over Vijay-starrer ‘Sarkar’ blew over Friday. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared the alterations and the theatres began screening the revised version of the political blockbuster from the matinee shows, industry sources said.
They said the scene showing the film’s director A. R. Murugadoss in a cameo role throwing a mixie and a grinder into fire in protest against the freebies (of Jayalalithaa regime) has been cut.
The CBFC has also cleared the muting of ‘Komala’ in the name ‘Komalavalli’ of the film’s protagonist, dialogues referring to ‘podhuppanithurai’ (public works department) and ‘56 varusham’ (56 years). The AIADMK functionaries had objected to these scenes alleging they offended their Amma’s welfare legacy and humiliated her as Komalavalli was her original name. n P4
Sun Pictures, producers of Sarkar, said certain scenes ‘considered to be controversial’ were removed in the interest of public safety, as well as on pleas from theatre owners. The ruling party members had resorted to violence and caused damage to property in theatres, said a Sun statement.
“Heeding the requests of theatre owners and considering the safety of the movie going public and their belongings, one or two scenes that were said to be controversial, have been removed,” the statement, which also carried a tag line “sarkar filmcrew’” said.
“This issue has now come to an end”, said information minister Kadambur Raju reacting to the Sarkar cuts. He said the AIADMK would not hold anymore protests.
“We believe they (Sarkar team) have realised they have hurt people’s sentiments and have come forward to remove the scenes... it is welcome. So the issue has come to an end. The protests will not continue,” he told reporters here.
Defending the protests, Raju said the AIADMK workers “ranging from an ordinary cadre to the Chief Minister (K Palaniswami),” consider Jayalalithaa as their ‘God’ and so their anger and anguish was justified as a name referring to Amma was used for a negative character. “We have nothing to do with the film or Vijay,” the minister said describing Vijay as a “dear friend.” Also, the AIADMK agitation had nothing to do with criticism of the government.
Revenue Minister Udhayakumar thanked the ‘Sarkar’ crew for removing the scenes. “In future, filmmakers should avoid including scenes that would hurt the sentiments, especially relating to Amma’s (Jayalalithaa’s) sacrifices and hard work,” he said.
Fans of “dear brother Vijay” also benefited from government welfare schemes like the free mixer-grinder and fan initiative, he told reporters in Madurai.
With the AIADMK anger dying down, Sarkar returned to enthrall the Vijay fans and the box office quickly picked up tempo again.
