Kamal Haasan’s controversial film Vishwaroopam has been removed from local cinemas in Malaysia a day after its release following a directive from the home ministry, much to the disappointment ethnic Indians here.
Film distribution company Lotus Fivestar AV’s director R. Ramalingam said the ministry told him to stop screening the movie on Friday. The film, which opened in Malaysia on Thursday, had played to full cinemas before being removed from the theatres.
Vishwaroopam has been banned Tamil Nadu for two weeks amid allegations by the Muslim community that they have been depicted negatively in the movie.
Mr Haasan has taken the matter to the Madras high court and a decision is pending.
A single judge of Madras high court on Saturday watched the film at a special screening ahead of passing order on the actor-filmmaker’s plea for a stay on the two-week ban imposed by Tamil Nadu government on its release in the state.
The screening of the film in Karnataka was, meanwhile, disrupted in some parts of Mysore, Bengaluru and Shimoga districts following protests, the police said.
One theatre in Mysore was vandalised by protesters, the police added. Sri Lanka too has order-ed a delay in the release in favour of a review by censors. Muslim majority multi ethnic Malaysia has a eight per cent ethnic Indian population who are mostly Tamils.