Kamal Haasan welcomes SC order on Sec 66A

Says information technology's growth should not be stopped, cannot be stopped

Veteran cinema star Kamal Haasan today welcomed the Supreme Court's order striking down Section 66A of the IT Act, saying technology's growth cannot be stopped.

"I feel information technology's growth should not be stopped, cannot be stopped," he said here.

In a landmark judgement, a Supreme Court bench of Justices J Chelameswar and R F Nariman had termed liberty of thought and expression as "cardinal" and said that "The public's right to know is directly affected by section 66A of the Information Technology Act."

Addressing reporters ahead of the release of his much-anticipated film 'Uthamavillain' next month, Haasan also took potshots at the Pahlaj Nihalani-led Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for imposing a set of guidelines and restrictions.

Such guidelines 'stifle' freedom of expression of the movie maker, said the actor-producer.

Talking about 'Uthamavillain,' directed by actor Ramesh Aravind and which has a good star cast, including Dadasaheb Phalke recipient, the late K Balachander, Haasan said that it was close to his heart since his mentor had played a role in it.

To a question on reviving his mega-budget 'Marudanayakam', he said some of his friends were holding discussions with him in this regard and that he had suggested that it be made in English since it is an 'international cinema.