Scenes offending Rajnikanth removed from film
CHENNAI: Rajnikanth fans have forced the deletion of a scene that mocked the megastar’s political entry in the upcoming film “Comali,” set for release on Aug.15. Ishari Ganesh, producer of the film starring young star Jayam Ravi and Kajal Aggarwal, said on Tuesday that a scene that mocked Rajni will be cut off.
Jayam Ravi also issued a statement. It said: “We have decided to delete the portion in the movie. Keeping fingers crossed, I am happily waiting to meet you as ‘Comali’ in theatres on Aug.15.
“However, a particular substance in the trailer involving Rajnikanth sir has unfortunately hurt the sentiments of a few Thalaivar fans. I would like to make it clear that the element was included in a positive light. Being a hardcore Rajni sir fan, I have been as eager and anxious as any other follower to see him embark on his political journey.
“We all grew up watching his movies, his action and style had become an inherent part of our nature and there is no way that we would show such disrespect to him in any way or his fans.’
“What has made him more lovable than before is that he saw the trailer of ‘Comali’ and appreciated our team for the creative appeal and congratulated us for coming up with a unique idea. However to see that such an ideation without any deliberate intent has been receiving resentments and some negative feedbacks from a section of his fans, we have decided to delete the portion in the movie.” Reports said the other megastar, Kamal Haasan, had asked Ganesh to ensure that the scene is removed.
Rajnikanth fans vent their ire on social media against the team behind the film, including Ravi, as the trailer released on Sunday appeared to take a swipe at the actor’s much delayed foray into politics.
The trailer upset Rajni fans so much that they also demanded an apology from the film’s director Pradeep Ranganathan and Jayam Ravi.
The film is set for an Independence Day release. The outfit which organises plans for Rajni’s ultimate entry, Rajini Makkal Mandram, insisted that it cannot be released unless certain scenes, which they think are unkind to Rajnikanth, be cut off.
Rajnikanth had announced his entry into politics only in December 2017 and said he would contest the next Assembly polls in the state. The trailer shows it as 2016. It shows Ravi’s character, who has been in coma for 16 years, waking up and asking his friends which year it is.