http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=13489107
Rajnikanth's Jaggubhai runs into trouble
By P C Vinoj Kumar in Chennai
Wednesday, 02 June , 2004, 13:01
Tamil actor Rajnikanth’s upcoming film ‘Jaggubhai’ has run into serious trouble with Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), a powerful Muslim outfit, which has warned director K S Ravikumar of legal action, and mass agitation, if the film hurts the sentiments of Muslims. | Discuss: Rajni should retire now |
In a recent letter, which was faxed to Ravikumar, the TMMK general secretary, Hyder Ali, claimed that advertisements for the movie ran down Muslim culture.
Alleging that the film insulted Muslims, the TMMK leader warned of severe consequences if the film’s story was not changed.
Top TMMK leaders, citing media reports, said that the story of ‘Jaggubhai’ was about a Muslim terrorist, who is reformed by a woman saint.
Explaining the party stand, TMMK president M H Jawahirullah said the cinema culture of stereotyping Muslims as terrorists had to stop.
"Such movies are not good for communal harmony," Jawahirullah told Sify.com. "This trend started with the film ‘Bombay’ in the 1990s. What is most worrying is that this culture is moving from Bollywood to Kollywood. There should be a full stop to the making of such movies," he said.
According to reports, Rajnikanth has suspended the discussion on ‘Jaggubhai.’
Rajnikanth’s ill luck with political parties seems to continue. His efforts to defeat PMK candidates in the recent Lok Sabha elections failed and all six PMK candidates won with comfortable margins.
PMK leader Ramadoss recently observed that "only if Rajni had some good deeds left from his previous birth," would his film ‘Jaggubhai’ run.
Rajnikanth is pinning his hopes on ‘Jaggubhai’ to regain his lost position in the industry following the flop of his last film ‘Baba.’
I don't know about this film, but didn't the Telugu film Khadgam raise controversy over its portrayal of Muslims?