Ever since the unveiling of the Sarkar first look poster, both the movie and the actor have faced much criticism for the lit cigarette in it. In the midst of all the comments, the Public Health Department issued notices to Vijay, director AR Murugadoss and the production house Sun Pictures to take down all the promotional images from all platforms.
It has also stated legal action will be initiated against them and the film if the images are not taken down. A spokesperson for the film said, “Taking into consideration the criticism that the poster has received, the movie team is no longer using that particular image. But we have no control over the photos already in circulation. It is that particular website that should remove it.”
However, even as the filmmakers claim they have taken down the image on all original sources, a look at Vijay’s Twitter page will tell you that the tweet carrying the image isn’t deleted.
#Sarkar pic.twitter.com/czi9c9zoQ1
— Vijay (@actorvijay) June 21, 2018
The poster of the actor’s upcoming film was released on his birthday. Within a few hours of the release the poster became a talking point as Vijay is seen puffing smoke from a cigarette. Former union health minister and PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss criticized the actor on Twitter for doing so.
Shame on Actor Vijay for promoting Smoking in this first look of his next movie.#ActResponsibly #DoNotPromoteSmoking
— Dr ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (@draramadoss) June 21, 2018
Also as it was reported earlier, Chennai-based advocate Tamilvendan has filed a complaint against Vijay and Murugadoss for releasing a poster promoting smoking, which is against the law. And the Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control, an NGO, was also planning to sue actor Vijay for the same.
However, earlier Murugadoss said to Times Of India that, “The poster was used only for promotional purposes and no such scene features in the film. Even a small sequence that we had shot with Vijay smoking has been deleted from the film.”
