The first-look of Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam 2 which the filmmaker-actor put out on Tuesday shows him holding the Indian flag. His face has a plaster covering his cheek. That, considering the physical and emotional battering he has been through in recent months, is an image truly in character.
The ever-affable never-say-die actor-director laughs, “The injury is in continuity from Part One of Vishwaroopam. The flag is an emblem of what the protagonist Wisam stands for”. Kamal Haasan recalls the problems he had to face for the film’s release in 2013.
During the time of the release of Vishwaroopam, Muslim organizations had objected to certain portions of the film, informed Kamal.
Kamal promises the sequel to Vishwaroopam would be even more politically provocative.
The film has the legendary Waheeda Rahman playing Kamal’s mother. The ethereally enchanting Waheeda who regaled us with her nimble dancing in Vijay Anand’s Guide fifty years ago will be seen again as a Bharat Natyam dancer in Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam 2.
The last time Waheedaji was seen dancing was the mujra in Gulzar’s Namkeen 37 years ago. In Vishwaroopam 2, she would be seen as she looked in her Guide days, thanks to the marvels of technology. The ever-innovative Kamal Haasan has morphed Waheeda ji’s face from her heydays on to a young Bharat Natyam dancer’s torso in the dance performances.
The role of an aging classical dancer in Vishwaroopam 2 is a pivotal one of Kamal Haasan’s mother. The actor-director was very keen that Vyjanthimala do the part. But she resolutely turned him down. It was then that Waheeda Rahman slipped into the picture.
(The love of Lata Mangeshkar's voice and Hindi movies - in that order - has propelled Subhash K Jha to the pursuit of journalism for over 30 years.)
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