The ‘Sri Lankan effect’ on Kollywood and its stars simply refuses to die down. A couple of months back, Kollywood boycotted en masse the IIFA awards ceremony held in Colombo, Sri Lanka saying that the event was being ‘stage-managed’ by the Lankan government to obliterate its ‘bad name’ among the international community in the wake of mass killings of ethnic Tamils last year. Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and his son and daughter-in-law chose to boycott the event at the behest of a request from Tamil film industry.
The few Bollywood stars who took part in the event faced the wrath of Tamil audience and the Tamil film industry. “Kites”, which starred Hrithik Roshan in the lead, was taken off cinema halls soon after the event as a protest to Hrithik taking part in the event. Ire was also directed at Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi but none of their films were on view in theatres at that moment.
Now, Suriya’s debut movie in Hindi (being made in Tamil as well) titled “Raktha Charitra” co-stars Vivek Oberoi and pairs Priyamani opposite him. As such, the film is already the target of those opposed to Vivek Oberoi. Likewise, the Salman Khan-Asin starrer “Ready” might also face problems in releasing in Tamil Nadu due to Salman’s presence in the film.
The Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners’ Association might soon be meeting to discuss the strategies in whether or not to take up these films for release and if they do decide, how to go about in doing so. Asin, who shot for “Ready” in Sri Lanka, faced the ire of Tamil groups for having gone to the Island nation despite the ban on artistes by the Nadigar Sangam in visiting the country.
The question which now looms large over the release of both “Raktha Charitra” and “Ready” would soon be sorted out by the meeting of the theatre owners’ and other affiliated bodies, it was informed.
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