The makers of 'Sarkar', a political thriller starring actor Vijay, have reportedly agreed, under immense pressure from the state government, to cut out parts of the movie seen as critical of the ruling AIADMK and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who died in 2016. The film's director AR Murugadoss went to the Madras High Court today for protection from arrest; in a tweet last night, he had alleged that the police banged on his door when he was not at home.
The AIADMK is furious over a scene in the film in which Mr Murugadoss, playing a cameo, flings a mixer-grinder given as a freebie, into the fire.
"They are showing freebies given by the elected government being burnt. This amounts to indirectly inciting people, and comes under sedition," said state minister CV Shanmugam, comparing the screening of 'Sarkar' to "terrorist activity". Another minister, Kadambur C Raju, had threatened action against the filmmakers unless the scenes were removed.
