January 23, 2026 03:34 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
'Bigger than tariffs': Ex-IMF economist Gita Gopinath flags pollution as India’s biggest economic threat | SC allows both Hindus and Muslims to pray at disputed Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh on Basant Panchami | 'Second group? no chance': Ashwini Vaishnaw says India is a top AI power, slams IMF at Davos | Twist before Tamil Nadu polls! TTV Dhinakaran returns to NDA after bitter exit | Gold goes berserk! Prices smash all-time high as global tensions explode | Markets end in red: Sensex slips 271 points, Nifty below 25,200; rupee hits record low | Nitin Nabin becomes BJP’s youngest president ahead of key assembly polls, PM Modi calls him ‘my boss’ | Viral video scandal rocks Karnataka Police: DGP Ramachandra Rao suspended | Jolt to ECI over SIR! SC allows BLAs at hearing, questions 'logical discrepancy'; TMC declares 'BJP's game over' | Will dal disrupt diplomacy? US lawmakers urge Trump to act on India’s 30% pulse tariff

BJP leader says watched 'Mersal' online, triggers controversy

| @indiablooms | Oct 25, 2017, at 10:12 pm
Chennai, Oct 25 (IBNS): A fresh controversy over Tamil film 'Mersal' began after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said he has watched the movie online, as actor Vishal accused the saffron leader of supporting piracy, media reports said.

Vishal, who is also the head of Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and general secretary of South Indian Artistes' Association, demanded an apology from BJP H. Raja, who confessed to have watched the film online.

In a statement, which was quoted by NDTV, Vishal said: "Dear Mr H Raja, as a leader and prominent personality, you are advocating piracy and blatantly agreeing to it."

Wondering "how a political leader like you could watch a pirated version of a film (online)", Vishal said all these set a bad example.

Producers of Tamil superstar Vijay's film Mersal have agreed to chop some scenes that referred to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a tax reform launched by the central government this year, media reports said.

The objection was raised at a scene where the actor was seen to deliver a political dialogue related to the tax reform.

The production unit said they will chop off the scenes if they are necessary.

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan supported the film in the whole controversy.

The film has hit the big screens this Diwali.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.