Twists and turns in film release, Kamal threatens to quit TN

The relief given to the actor by Justice K Venkataraman late last night was short lived as a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Aruna Jagadeesan quashed it, effectively stalling its release today.

The two-member bench posted the case for hearing next Wednesday. While the 58-year-old actor's lawyer earlier indicated that they may challenge the decision, his brother Chandra Haasan said they would wait till next Wednesday to decide the next course of action.

Some theatres including one in suburban Villivakkam and another in Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram, which had started showing the film before the HC order came, were attacked by unidentified elements. A petrol bomb was thrown at a theatre in Paramakudi.

The issue also took a political turn when DMK President M Karunanidhi wondered whether Haasan's statement at a recent function clamouring for a "dhoti clad Tamilian" to become the prime minister, an apparent reference to P Chidambaram, was the root cause of his present problems. (MORE)