Kamal goes soft on DMK post floods - Vijay Fans v/s Pollution control over flood relief

Soon after Ajith fans claimed that their idol arranged boats for NDRF to rescue Aamir Khan and Vishnu Vishal, Vijay Makkal Iyakkam claim that they waded through oil slick in Ernavoor to rescue a mother and three year old baby, has according to TNPCB ( pollution Board) exists only a trace and that too not in the area mentioned. According to a video put out by a Vijay Makkal Iyakkam membera lady called him from Ernavoor asking for help to rescue her pregnant sister in law and her three month baby. As there was no NDRF teams around, she called VMI member. The VMI team found that it was not just stagnant water but a thick oil spill was evident but they went in saved the sick lady and her daughter, The Chennai Petroleum a Central PSU operates it and so Central Govt was at dock. State Pollution Board who took samples say that there is no oil spill in the refinery. Only the stagnant water in storm water going to Canal had traces. Also they mentioned that the storm water drain from Factory to the Eranavoor had no oil traces.Now VMI are call Board team as covering up the lapses in the Refinery.

Kamal Haasan is yet another Kollywood celeb to get caught in a an attack from a section of social media. While his Makkal Needhi Maiyam has been in the forefront distributing relief materials to flood affected residents in Chennai, his statement that said it is not the time for blame game and saying that for any Government body to reach 1 crore people at the same time is impossible and so all must join in. This many see as Kamal playing up to DMK the party with which he is likely to align. He saying that 2015 floods saw 24 cm but now it is 54 cm is defending DMK. He said that only if people stopped buying wetlands and converting them to dry lands and constructing buildings, flooding will stop. From earlier track record, even in 2015 floods, Kamal said that pray to the rivers and rain as if they are your deities and by that way these rivers will be protected . Coming from an atheist, Kamal showed his need to protect environment and if religion could do so, he did not mind it. The controversial Pathala Pathala song in Vikram too has a few lines on conversion of marshlands into plots to construct buildings.

Talking about Kamal, we are told that his RKFI that is producing STR 48 has zeroed in on April 2024 as commencing date for shoot. STR is in London and he is not exactly holidaying but going through certain makeup techniques with experts . Desingh the director has two different looks for STR in this period film. STR will return to Chennai in February. STr was also in Thailand to undergo training in martial arts and in London, he is also taking training in sword fight known as fencing. It is costliest budget film in STR career.

Leo OTT version different from Theatre - Mammootty replaces Kamal Haasan

 

Mahesh Narayanan who was to direct a film with Kamal Haasan has now cast Mammootty instead. Kamal opted out but might do a cameo. The film is produced by Fahad Faasil and he along with Kunchacko Boban also play pivotal roles. Mahesh notable films Take off, C U soon, Malayankunju have been critically well received . Mahesh was editor the Mammooty film Abrahaminte Santhathikal. Shooting will begin Feburary 2024.

Lokesh has revealed that Leo’s OTT version will have 18 – 20 minutes extra scenes. In the climax Leo reveals the truth to Antony Das. He hinted that the flash back portion might not be in OTT as he said it was to please the fans. He said like Dilli aim was to save his daughter and Vikram was to have a drug free world, Parthipan aim is to make the world believe that Leo is dead. Nov 10 is said to be the streaming date and with these changes even those who have seen Leo in theatres will watch on OTT. In Kerala, the film has touched Rs 50 crores and in Canada , it is top most grossing Tamil film.

Lokesh revealed that Leo subject was to be done by another Star but it got dropped. He then moved to Kaithi and during Master, he got close to Vijay and that led to Leo, He then made few  changes and added more details to court room scenes. He said that he brought in twin sister as twin brothers was already not a new idea. He wanted somebody to dance and act in sister role and felt Madonna was apt. Lokesh is taking a break from social media as he is busy with pre production work of Rajinikanth film.

Meanwhile a circular has gone to Makkal Iyakkam that those coming with entry pass for Leo success meet should also carry Aadhar card to enter. Entry will be permitted from 4 PM on November 1 at Nehru stadium.

Was Leo audio launch canceled due to political pressure ? Details here

Was political pressure the reason for the audio launch of Leo being cancelled ?. Vijay fans say that Udhaynidhi ‘s distribution company not getting the distribution rights had played foul . Producer Lalit Kumar says that heavy demand for passes and security concerns made him cancel the event and says no political pressure. Our investigation reveals that the truth lies in between. The first-ever senior national 3x3 basketball championship was held from September 22 to 24 at Jawaharlal Nehru indoor stadium . The event was played on a half court set as per FIBA standards and for this the plates imported from China were fixed on the floor. On September 25th the event organisers of Leo function was told that the half court that was created for basketball cannot be used and rest of the area was free. Already Vijay Makkal Iyakkam had given State wide list of passes for the office bearers and it was already more than the seated capacity of 36000. With half court area gone, the dais had to be made shorter. Next was to look for an open ground like Sri Ram College but here again the security was a issue as it required heavy manpower to keep it free from overcrowding. Though the basketball event was over on September 24th, the stadium could b given only on September 26th as there was cleaning to be one. This left only three days as audio launch was fixed for September 30th. Initially , the event was planned to be held in Malaysia but here again the biggest stadium was already booked. Later on, Vijay decided to turn Leo event into a Iyyakam show of strength. After seeing the criticism in media over the shoddy conduct of AIADMK conference and the recent A R Rahman show, organisers decided to skip the event. The film is releasing on October 19th and there is enough time to get another venue and make arrangements but why is the Producer cancelling the event instead of postponing it. One reason is that after two IPS officers were transferred after the Rahman show chaos, police are running away from giving permission to shows in public grounds. The two police officers were transferred for not managing the traffic that was heavy during Rahman show and subsequently CM convoy got held in the traffic snarl. There is also an allegation that certain BJP men made fake passes and sold them and this led to overcrowding in Rahman show and this could happen in Leo show too. We will have to wait to see if the Leo audio launch gets a new date.

Ajith's Valimai release date on AMMA B'Day - Vijay Makkal Iyyakam says back DMK

 Ajith's Valimai is releasing on Feb 24th and AIADMK cadres are already celebrating it as they see it as a message from the actor to his fans that he is an AMMA supporter. Reason being that the release date is AMMA Birthday. As also on Feb 19th, urban bodies go to polls. The  Tamil Nadu South regional head based in Thoothukudi ( Tuticorin )  of Vijay Makkal Iyyakam (VMI) told  reporters that they have decided to back DMK in places where they have not put up candidates. He claimed that it was decided at emergency meeting of State leaders.

AIADMK candidates flex boards have sprung up showing Ajith with folded hands asking for votes. According to the talk circulated by party cadres, Ajith was asked to select three dates for release. Ajith ticked Feb 24th as it was AMMA's birthday, goes the folklore.

From the trade viewpoint, theaters had promised to block three weeks to give Valimai a grand release. The film had been in the cans waiting for theater release and shunned the OTT release. Exactly one month after comes RRR in theaters. Secondly, Ajith is said to have a Thursday fixation and launches his film and has all auspicious functions on that day .Feb 24 is a Thursday..  Photos of AMMA at Ajith- Shalini wedding are doing the rounds. The fact that Karunanidhi turned up to greet the couple is buried

Two days back, Pondy CM NR turned up at Vijay's Pannaiyur house in ECR and had a `courtesy call' that lasted 1 hour. We have reported the reason for this  courtesy'. Now the South District secretary spilling inner details of deciding  to support DMK by VMI has added to arsenal of the party. 

Related; https://southfilmy.blogspot.com/2022/02/n-r-congress-seeks-vijay-makkal-iyakkam.html

Ajith officially disbanded all fan clubs. Vijay has not openly  come out in support of VMI but has kept silent on use of his name - photo in campaigns. VMI staked claim for autorickshaw symbol as it would please Rajni fans as their idol's Baasha film , a evergreen hit had him as an auto driver. Elecn Commission said no to VMI.

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N R Congress seeks Vijay Makkal Iyakkam support as BJP to dump them

 N Rangasamy meeting with Actor Vijay was to seek the latter's support through Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (VMI) as  BJP would quit the alliance and takeover the CM post, said a source. The meeting was arranged by Bussy Anand , ex MLA of NR Congress and head of VMI. NR got wind of the move as soon BJP  cut ties with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu urban polls. NR knew that next would be his CM chair and if he refused, he and is party would be shown the door.

As AIADMK might go with BJP in Pondy, NR is not sure whether DMK - Cong would back him. BJP would also take away NR MLA\s too in a defection. In this scenario, a midterm poll will happen/ The backing of VMI will be the boost that NR can get. Many MLA\s might think twice if VMI is backing NR. Reasons to bank on VMI is  based on recent events.

During the shooting of `Master', fans turned up from areas in Pondy- Cuddalore - Karaikal for the shoot in Neyveli. It was around that time the Income Tax people came to the spot and asked Vijay to come with them for questioning. Fans saw it as a BJP move and turned violent. Entire stretch from Pondy  to Neyveli was packed with VMI workers in lorries. Police had to lathi charge the crowd. Fans were injured and Vijay at the audio function in filmy style said with a pointed finger that he would not sit quiet if his fans were hurt.

Till date in Puducherry, no event has got the crowds or witnessed the hysteria like when Vijay and his wife came for Anand's daughter wedding. VMI won 100 councilors in the local body polls and has put around 200 candidates for upcoming poll in Tamil Nadu. 
VMI victory was a surprise for  decade old Seeman's political outfit MTK and Kamal's new outfit , both which drew a blank.