‘Vishwaroopam’ opened to packed theatres in Tamil Nadu on Friday and it was a markedly relieved Kamal Haasan who arrived in Bengaluru on Saturday. Having managed to squeeze in five minutes for this interview, as a flurry of journalists waited impatiently at the ITC Windsor, Haasan talked about how let down he feels by the controversy, despite everything having worked out in his favour. His unwavering support to the Tamil Nadu government went unappreciated and while he is wiser for it now, he is determined not to let undue caution affect the sequel, which is currently being shot.Now that the ban has been lifted in Tamil Nadu, do you feel vindicated?
It’s not about vindication at all. I was very clear, right from the beginning about what I wanted to say. I’m happy now that things have been clarified by that community. They were actually members of a fringe group. People often ask me why I did those preliminary screenings for Islamist outfits in the first place, and my answer is that I showed it to K. Balachander. He is like a father to me. Then, I showed it to my younger brothers, this film was meant for them. I didn’t think there was any harm getting a few more advocates for the film. But, for some reason, they decided to go against it, that too when I was not in the country.You have always shown the Tamil Nadu government a great deal of support, especially over the Cauvery issue. Do you feel let down by it?
I am let down by many people. I’m hurt that my Muslim brethren, even if they are a fringe group, that four or five or even two people, can doubt my secular nature. On the other hand, I’ve been critical of Hinduism, like in ‘Hey Ram’, but I’ve been kind to Muslims. The majority should behave like elder brothers and treat the minorities with compassion. That’s what I’ve always tried to do and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. This incident has not changed that.How do the cuts and mutes affect the quality of your film?
There are only mutes, not cuts, thankfully. As a filmmaker, I’m annoyed by anything that takes away from the quality of the experience. Even a bad sound system that detracts from the film makes me feel remorse. But being forced to introduce mutes, because of pressure, because of cultural terrorism, that’s a different story. My film is about terrorism, but is being restrained by cultural terrorism.Your film has a lot of English dialogue. Is this the way forward for the new generation of audiences?
My film has very little English, so to speak. I do believe that the national language of this country is English. Like the railways, it is what connects our country. Of course, we try to be parochial and bring regional language and parochial politics into this.Does this controversy affect your making of Vishwaroopam-2?
The script for Vishwaroopam-2 has already been written. Whatever caution with which it was written still exists and it will remain the way it is. I can be tempered, but I cannot be tampered with. I will improvise, of course, but that will be for purely artistic reasons. Nerves will not have anything to do with it.