While actor Vishal awaits the release of his 25th film, Sandakozhi 2, the film’s audio launch was held in Chennai on Monday. Speaking at the event, Vishal requested "digital media friends" to refrain from putting up reviews immediately after the film’s release.
“Please share your reviews three days after the film’s release. Films may be good or bad, and I understand you have your freedom of expression but everyone’s human here. Those three days will give the producers and filmmakers an opportunity to save their films,” he said during the launch.
Vishal further added that he only meant certain members and not the entire fraternity. “I’m only speaking to my digital media friends. I don’t have any qualms against newspaper or television reviewers.”
Earlier this month, actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, in a note that was shared online, lashed out against "paid reviewers" and the politics in the film industry that reportedly made it difficult for small films to survive.
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, who plays a major role in Vishal’s Sandakozhi 2, however, was not present during the launch.
Vishal also answered questions regarding actor and MLA Karunas' arrest, the need for curbing piracy in films and on actor Sri Reddy.
“Freedom of expression is a part of the Constitution. But there’s a limit for what you speak. Maybe because he (Karunas) crossed it, they’ve taken legal action on him. Same goes for people like H Raja or S Ve Sekar. Even if I were to speak beyond my limits and if they don’t arrest me, people can question it. I believe Karunas has raced over the others in this case,” said Vishal.
Answering questions on piracy, Vishal said, “Why do you think we want to venture into politics? It is because we want to bring in a change. If such changes were to happen, we’d do our job (acting) and rest easy. Piracy is a problem for the entire Indian cinema. If the government were to lend us some support, we can thrash piracy in just a day.”
On being asked if he supported producers offering roles for Sri Reddy, he said sarcastically, “Isn’t that a good thing? But I’m sure everyone will be careful. They’d place cameras for their own safety even if Sri Reddy were to do it or not. I can guarantee there’d be automatic safety for her in her next project.”
Vishal also spoke about his next project - Ayogya. “It is on an important social cause. The film will speak about the need for introducing capital punishment for rape.”
Sandakozhi 2 is the sequel to the 2005 hit Sandakozhi. Directed by Lingusamy, the film also stars Keerthy Suresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Raj Kiran, Ganja Karuppu, Ramdoss, Hareesh Peradi and Kabali Viswanath in pivotal characters. The film’s music has been composed by Yuvan Shakar Raja and will hit screens on October 18.