Kamal Haasan portrays J Jayalalithaa as dictator: Complaint

Chennai: The second season of Big Boss has courted more controversy, this time involving the host of the show Kamal Haasan. The actor-turned politician has been accused of using the show to further the interests of the party he has founded - Makkal Needhi Maiyam. The advocate, Louisal Ramesh, who has filed a police complaint is seeking a ban on the show as it “defames” the late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa by portraying her as a “dictator”.

The advocate has alleged in her complaint that Haasan was using the show to further his political interests and charged him with speaking about Jayalalithaa in a “demeaning” manner. “Hassan and the production firm behind the show are portraying the late CM Amma as a dictator with an intention to bring disrepute to her,” she said.

While there is no guessing what the outcome of the complaint may be, it is a fact that Kamal has been targeting the former regime led by Jayalalithaa for having placed obstacles to the release of his film Vishwaroopam. At the height of the controversy then, Kamal had lamented that he may be forced to leave India as there was no freedom of expression here. Kamal can be seen as carrying on a tirade against Jaya, which is what the advocate is trying to bring out in her plaint.

The advocate states in her complaint that one of the co-contestants is seen telling the person playing the part of the dictator that she was from north India  and as such “did not know what happened to those in Tamil Nadu who gave a dictatorial rule earlier”.

“Kamal Haasan, speaking on Saturday while compiling (the week's episodes) will speak on similar lines saying what happened to such people who ruled like a dictator,” she said.  “The Bigg Boss-2 programme is defaming Amma, who gave a peaceful rule, by portraying her as a dictator. The show should be banned and legal action should be initiated against Kamal Haasan and producer Endemolshine India,” Ramesh said.

There is no love lost between the ruling AIADMK party, which is a legacy Jayalalithaa has left behind, and the actor-politician who has taken a fierce anti-government stand on various issues, from the Sterlite agitation to the Salem-Chennai expressway project. Kamal political perch is clear as he has not minced words in his speeches and in his statements ever since he energised his MNM party this year.