Chennai: As Vishal entered the RK Nagar election fray as an independent candidate, actor-director-producer Cheran on Monday demanded that the actor resign his post as the chief of Producers' Council for the “betterment of the industry”.
The actor, who claimed that his demand has the support of majority of film producers of the Tamil cinema industry, said Vishal would antagonize both the ruling and Opposition parties during his campaign that would not augur well for the industry, which is dependent on the government on several issues.
"Let Vishal contest RK Nagar or Ashok Nagar or KK Nagar. We have no problem at all. But he should contest the election after resigning his post as president of Producers' Council. Producers' Council is an organisation that should be kept away from politics and an organisation that is dependent on the government.
"AS Alagappan and Rama Narayanan had quit their posts as chief of Producers' Council immediately after the party to which they owed allegiance had ceased to be in power because they all knew that film industry is dependent on the government. Now Vishal should also quit his position as he is directly taking on the government of the day," Cheran told reporters here.
Vishal, the chief of Producers' Council and general secretary of Nadigar Sangam, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate to contest the December 21 bypoll to R K Nagar constituency in Chennai.
The decision by the actor, according to Cheran, would create "several hurdles" for the film industry, especially for producers, since the government "might not like" to be criticised by the head of the council. "Actor Vishal contesting from RK Nagar amounts to inviting the wrath of all political parties and it would create a permanent wedge between the government and the producers' council. It would lead to disastrous consequences for the film industry," Cheran, who was flanked by "small-time" producers, said.
"Majority of the film producers support the demand," Cheran said when asked how many members of the council are supporting Vishal's ouster.
