From the day of release till date, actor Vijay’s Sarkar first look poster has gotten into a controversy, where the actor is seen posing with a ‘cigarette.’ After the huge controversy of Mersal, now the actor has found himself in a fresh mess.
Chennai-based advocate Tamilvendan, has filed a complaint against actor Vijay and director A.R Murugadoss for releasing a poster promoting smoking, which is against the law. This is according to a report that says case has been registered in the City Commissioner office against the actor and the director for promoting smoking.
Due to the government having banned using tobacco and related products, the complaint from the advocate read, “Due to the widespread use of tobacco in India, cancer deaths are very high. To control this there are various prohibitions on the use of tobacco; the advertising of those products in the television is also banned. But even after the laws came into place, actors are seen smoking in the films, negatively influencing youngsters.
Now actor Vijay’s Sarkar poster also violates the laws and intentions. It may lead fans and other youngsters to take this as permission to smoke, thereby putting themselves at the risk of cancer. So a talk should be had with the actor and the director regarding the poster. They should also eliminate the controversial scenes in the film. Also strict action should be taken against the actors and the directors who ruin society with these kinds of promotions.”
The poster of the actor’s upcoming film, directed by A R Murugadoss, was released earlier this month 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 in Twitter for doing so.
You’ll look more stylish without that cigarette.#SmokingKills #SmokingCausesCancer pic.twitter.com/UUvzgrffHN
— Dr ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (@draramadoss) June 21, 2018
Shame on Actor Vijay for promoting Smoking in this first look of his next movie.#ActResponsibly #DoNotPromoteSmoking
— Dr ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (@draramadoss) June 21, 2018
The Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control, an NGO, is planning to sue actor Vijay for the same. “Actor Vijay had posed with tobacco products in his earlier movies also. When confronted, he and his team would immediately apologise. By then, they would have managed enough publicity of their movie. This appears to be a marketing strategy,” says S Cyril Alexander, the forum’s state convener to The New Indian Express.
