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.
Some states threatened to ban it. But it was only Tamil Nadu that actually went ahead and banned it. There was a kind of a panic among theatre owners in Tamil Nadu because of the uncertainty. I can’t blame them. Film exhibitors are like any business on the streets. If there is a war they’ll pack up and leave. And when there is a riot they’ll shut shop.Kamal Haasan, Actor
During the time of the release of Vishwaroopam, Muslim organizations had objected to certain portions of the film, informed Kamal.
I was labelled an anti-Muslim. I wonder where these groups were when I was being attacked for Hey Ram 17 years ago. At that time my film was a threat to the saffron colour. In Vishwaroopam it was the colour green. Only the colour changes. The pattern of illogical protests remain the same. I am against any kind of terrorism, whatever its colour: green, saffron or khaki. I love all Indians regardless of their religion.Kamal Haasan
Kamal promises the sequel to Vishwaroopam would be even more politically provocative.
In the sequel of Vishwaroopam you will see many more layers to my character. You just wait and watch. The sequel will be even more volatile. We’d get into my character’s antecedents. The highlight of the sequel would be Jaideep Ahlawat.Kamal Haasan
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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