While public reactions to the selection of Vetrimaaran’s National Award-winning film “Visaranai” as India’s official entry to the Oscars have been mixed, actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan is delighted about the decision. The veteran star has been one of early supporters of the film, endorsing it even before its release.

The critically-acclaimed film, when it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last year, stunned the audiences with its raw portrayal of police brutality and the abuse of power.

“I was glad to see Indian cinema graduating towards realistic ‘dracumentry’. Like most Indian audience, I am so repulsed by the same menu offered with very little variation,” Kamal was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle.

Commenting on the brutally violent content, he said, “The violence shown in ‘Visaranai’ is representative. Real life is much worse. To achieve a state of ahimsa (non-violence), one needs, at least, elementary knowledge of the bleeding edge of himsa (violence). Ignorance of himsa, or refusal to look at it, or recommending others to turn their faces away amounts to blindfolding the society from knowing violent facts.”

Partially based on the book, “Lock Up”, based on events that happened in the life of author and auto driver M Chandra Kumar, “Visaranai” was co-produced by Dhanush. The film stars Samuthirakani, Dinesh and Kishore.

(Content provided by Digital Native)