The Madras High Court has issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Producers Council and its President Kalaipuli S Thanu, following a petition filed by actor Vishal. Vishal was suspended from the association earlier this month, and subsequently filed a petition to grant an interim injunction restraining Thanu from implementing the temporary suspension order against him. The Council decided to suspend Vishal after he criticised the Council in a recent Ananda Vikatan interview, and failed to apologise.
Vishal said.“Responding to one of the questions from the reporters seeking the reasons for the loss incurred by the producers alone, while others are able to earn profit, I stated that the callous and irresponsible attitude of the present office-bearers of the producers council is responsible for the situation. This particular reaction was also carried in the article.”
He further said, “The council has suspended me though there were no derogatory remarks neither against the council or its office-bearers. I received a notice on August 31 directing me to withdraw the comments made at the press briefing and also to tender an apology. But, I denied the allegations through a reply notice dated September 9.”
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Meanwhile, Thanu is of the opinion that this whole issue has been blown out of proportion. Thanu said, “The interview was done in August. Mr Vishal had three months in which he could have made amends. The council is made of senior members who felt insulted by the language he used. But, he did not apologise. After much discussion, we went through with this decision. As it is, this suspension is temporary and only a light tap on the wrist. There were some amongst us who wanted a stricter punishment handed out.”