Madras Cafe: First day, No show in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Aug 23: Even after seeking support from the people of Tamil Nadu, Actor-Producer John Abraham's controversial Bollywood flick "Madras Cafe", that released today, failed to pull Tamil movie-goers at cinema halls.

In fact, the political thriller film did not even release in Tamil Nadu as theatre owners refused to screen the film following protests by activists.

On Thursday, the Tamil version of Madras Cafe was granted a U/A certificate with no cuts for release in Tamil Nadu.

Denounced as anti-Tamil, 'Madras Cafe' has drawn the attention of critics and the wrath of Tamil activists who demand banning of the film across India.

Tamil activists feel that the film, that released today with lot of speculations, portrays them in a bad light.

Madras Cafe is set against the Sri Lankan civil war and also depicts the 1991 assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

It came under the scanner after Tamil activists alleged that it portrays the LTTE cadres as terrorists.

Multiplexes fear that releasing the film could make matters worse.

Tamil filmmaker Seeman, head of Naam Tamizhar (We Tamils) group, said the film was "nauseatingly anti-Tamil".

In a related development, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu unit chief Pon Radhakrishnan had said the movie should not be released in any part of the country.

Directed by Shoojit Sircar, the film stars actor John Abraham as playing the role of an Indian Army special officer-and Nargis Fakhri is essaying the role of an international journalist.

OneIndia News

(With IANS inputs)