Yearender 2015: It’s the final countdown
Kamal Haasan again courted controversy in 2015.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-12-31 02:41 GMT
All’s not fair in love and war: Trisha
Trisha Krishnan’s engagement during the beginning of the year with entrepreneur-turned-producer Varun Manian after a whirlwind courtship created ripples in the film industry. The couple did not utter a word about their relationship until Varun’s tweet saying, ‘Pre-Wedding Jitters? No better friend than a sister?’
Their engagement was celebrated in a traditional ceremony on January 23 with only close relatives and friends attending it, followed by an extravagant party at a star hotel. At the time of engagement, it was announced that the wedding would take place towards the end of the year, after both families decided on a suitable date.
However, after a few months, speculation was rife about the couple’s break-up because of the growing differences between them. Finally, when the pretty actress came out in the open and announced calling off her engagement, she hit the headlines once again. But career-wise, Trisha had a great year with half a dozen releases in Tamil and Telugu and accolades poured in for her alluring performance in Yennai Arindhaal and the action-laced role later this year in Thoongavanam.
A roller-coaster ride for the legend: Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan, one of the greatest actors of our time, again courted controversy in 2015 through his films, his opinion about tolerance, his support of Jallikattu, and for questioning the State government’s relief efforts. When Uttama Villain’s first look poster was released, he was accused of plagiarising the work of a French photographer Eric Lafforgue.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad also filed a petition because the lines of a song written by Kamal were offensive to followers of Lord Vishnu. He was in the news again when he refused to return his National Awards in protest against the rise of alleged intolerance in the country. Kamal who doesn’t mince words stirred a controversy again when he raised his voice in support of Jallikattu, the popular bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu. He opined that the sport should not go extinct because of the influence of modern Western thoughts.
The actor’s reported criticism of the State government’s relief measures during the recent deluge in Tamil Nadu put him in a spot of bother. Kamal ultimately denied saying anything controversial and offered an unconditional apology.
When the maestro hogged the limelight: AR Rahman
Though AR Rahman’s score for Mani Ratnam’s O Kadhal Kanmani was raved about for its freshness, for the maestro, 2015 will be remembered for the Fatwa issued by a fringe Muslim group against him for scoring music for an Iranian movie Muhammad: Messenger of God. The film is reportedly on the Prophet directed by Majid Majidi. Reacting to the issue, the Academy winner retorted saying that he composed the music ‘in good faith and with no intention to cause offence’.
He took to his Facebook page to explain his stand on signing the movie. Rahman also quoted verses from the Quran to describe his point of view. He said, “I am not a scholar of Islam. I follow the middle path and am part traditionalist and part rationalist. I live in both the Western and Eastern worlds and try to love all people for what they are, without judging them.”
He was also in the limelight for speaking about the intolerance topic in the country. Speaking at the 46th edition of IFFI, Rahman opined that we are all ultra-civilised people and that we should show the world that we are the best civilisation.
Partners in ‘crime’: Anirudh and Simbu
If it was the horrendous rainfall and the floods that followed hitting the headlines in the city in the first two weeks of December, it is the controversial ‘Beep Song’ that has been the talk of the town for the last few days. The song, which went viral through WhatsApp, was initially considered as a joint collaboration of Simbu and Anirudh, though the latter came out stating that he had nothing to do with it.
Both of them also tried making it clear that the song was leaked by unknown people and that the duo did not create the song for a movie. However, this attempt of theirs had little takers. Various organisations including those functioning for the welfare of women hit out against Simbu, alleging that the ‘unofficial’ composition denigrates the fairer sex, thereby sending the wrong signals to children and youngsters.
It was a fruitful year for Anirudh with musical hits like Maari, Vedalam, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan and others, and his concert in Toronto was the icing on the cake. The young composer managed to steer clear of the issue without much damage to his career and name. Simbu on the other hand, was at the receiving end throughout the year. Though Vaalu hit the screens, it did no good to his uncertain career. The ongoing fiasco associated with Idhu Namma Aalu added to his woes. To say that Simbu has become a synonym for the term ‘controversy’ would not be an exaggeration.
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