Chennai: Popular Tamil actor Vishal, who also heads the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) on Monday accused Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader H Raja of advocating piracy and demanded from him an an apology.
"Dear Mr H Raja, as a leader and prominent personality, you are advocating piracy and blatantly agreeing to it," Vishal, who is also General Secretary of the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA), said in a statement, according to PTI.
The actor said he wondered "how a political leader like you could watch a pirated version of a film (online)" and added that it "sets a bad example".
This was "totally insensitive and uncalled for," said Vishal, who is known for his strong anti-piracy stand and activities.
Vijay's Diwali release "Mersal" has kicked up a row with the BJP taking exception to references on the central government's Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the movie and demanding that the "objectionable" dialogues be deleted from the film.
However, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, his senior colleague P Chidambaram, DMK working president MK Stalin, veteran star Kamal Haasan and a host of Tamil cinema industry representatives had supported the film crew on the issue.
In Puducherry, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy came to the defence of the film, saying questions have been "justifiably" raised on the GST and the Digital India initiatives in the movie and there could be no objection to expression of one's views in a democratic set up.
"I am a member of the GST council and I have expressed my strong criticism of the abnormal levy of GST on medicines and on hotels at the council meeting," he told reporters.
"Will those unable to tolerate criticism made by actor Vijay in the movie against the GST seek action against me as well for objecting to the abnormal levy of taxes at the council meeting?" the chief minister asked.
Stating that movies, television and newspapers had every right to express views and criticise policies and decisions of authorities, he claimed that there was no political motive, whatsoever, in the movie's dialogues.
"Let not BJP leaders labour under the mistake that they should always be lauded for anything and everything of the NDA regime even if the decisions of the Centre are injurious to the people," Narayanasamy said.
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