Mumbai Xpress 'chugs' into protest storm 16th Apr 2005
21.30 IST
By P. Sreekumaran
Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan's latest film Mumbai Xpress has run into trouble in Chennai.
Troublemakers tore up the screen of the Ambika theatre in Chennai which was showing the Kamal film. This was part of the movement the Dalit Panthers and the Pattali Makkal Katchi had warned of in case Kamal Haasan to change the name of his film.
It may be mentioned that both DP and PMK had urged Kamal to have a Tamil name for his movie.
The superstar, however, chose to ignore the warnings and stuck to the title 'Mumbai Xpress'.
Obviously, the DPI and PMK activists have not taken kindly to Kamal's indifference to their request.
Meanwhile, the Dalit leader Tirumalvalvan has upped the ante by calling for a boycott of "Mumbai Xpress". By ignoring their request for changing the title of his film, Kamal, Tirumalvalvan alleged, has hurt the feelings of crores of Tamilians.
It remains to be seen whether the movement will gather momentum. If it does, then Kamal Haasan is heading for trouble.
Coming days will show whether "Mumbai Xpress" will have a smooth run or a rocky ride.