AIADMK supporters try to pull down actor Vijay’s hoarding on Thursday

Chennai :

In a new certificate, issued by the CBFC, the three cuts have reduced the duration of the movie by five seconds. Previously the run time of the movie was 164 minutes and 46 seconds, and after the cuts, it is 164 minutes 41 seconds.





Tamil Nadu Minister for Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju said the issue has been settled as the film unit "has agreed to our demand of removing the objectionable scene."





The voluntary removal of certain controversial scenes relating to the AIADMK in actor Vijay's 'Sarkar' on Friday prompted the ruling party to declare that the "issue has come to an end" and that it would not stage any more protests against the film.

The statement from Information and Publicity Minister Kadambur C Raju, who first flagged the issue, should come as a relief for the film crew and Vijay fans as film buffs are likely to make a beeline to theatres coinciding with the weekend.





The Central Board of Film Certification said excisions and modifications carried out in the originally certified movie were: deletion of visuals of throwing a mixie and grinder into fire

muting the name 'Komala' from the full name of the character 'Komalavalli' and removing the same from subtitles

muting the dialogue 'Podhuppaniththuraia' (PWD) and '56 Varusham' (56 years) and the removal of those words from subtitles

The AIADMK's objection was to the scene that showed the actor throwing out mixie and grinder -- given free by the government to the poor -- into the fire.





The AIADMK government under late J. Jayalalithaa offered free mixer, grinder, laptops and others to the poor.





The other reason for the ruling party opposing the movie is the name of a character 'Komalavalli' which they say is the birth name of their late leader Jayalalithaa.





On Thursday state Law Minister CVe Shanmugam compared the scenes (burning of freebies) in the movie with terrorist activity aimed at instigating violence against the state government.













Earlier in the day, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan tweeted: "It is nothing new for the state government to exert illegal political pressure on movies that got proper certification."





"Governments that does not have the guts to accept criticisms will derail. The businessmen group will go and the good people who would come to power will win," Kamal Haasan said.





AIADMK party cadres protested outside the theatres which screened the movie in several places and damaged the banners on Thursday and Friday morning.





Similarly, actor Rajinikanth tweeted in support of the movie condemning damage to the film's banners.





Meanwhile, the Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu police not to arrest 'Sarkar' movie Director AR Murugadoss who had approached it seeking anticipatory bail.





He had approached the court after state ministers voiced their opposition to the movie with Law Minister Shanmugam threatening legal action.