`Viswaroopam` not against Muslims

CHENNAI: Defending his decision to release his upcoming directorial venture ‘Viswaroopam’ also on DTH platform, superstar Kamal Haasan Sunday said it will in no way deter crowds from thronging the theatres even as he sought to dispel fears that the film was against Muslims. "Muslims, who suspect they have been depicted in a wrong manner will have a change of heart after watching the film and as a remedy they have to send their brother (Haasan) lot of Biriyani for Eid next year, which I will share with the poor," the actor said in a statement here. Claiming that a majority of the Tamil cinema industry had backed his DTH idea as "novel", he said only a minor section was agitated against his proposal and spreading unnecessary rumours. "One show will be aired on DTH which cannot be recorded and neither will it remain in the DTH system. The charge is Rs 1000 which is 10 times that of the theatre. For sure one can have the joy of watching the movie at home but not the experience of viewing it in the theatre," he said adding the film boasted of latest sound technology. He said DTH penetration in Tamil Nadu was only three per cent and enjoyed by the "affluent," and his idea would reach only half of this number and the apprehensions amounted to "100 persons fearing one." To further explain his case, he cited a divine anecdote. He said while people have portraits of Lord Venkateshwara at home, this did not however deter them from visiting the holy shrine near Tirupati. "The case of cinema halls is something like that," he said. "Have hotels been shutdown because many homes have kitchens which prepare good food?" he asked. He indicated that initial fears against movies being telecast on TV channels were proved wrong. Haasan had kicked up a row when he decided to release his trilingual "Viswaroopam" on Direct-To-Home platform eight hours ahead of its release on January 11 next. The thriller stars Rahul Bose, Shekhar Kapoor and Andrea Jeremiah, among others.