Police come knocking at AR Murugadoss' house; Sarkar director seeks anticipatory bail

Sarkar, starring Vijay and directed by AR Murugadoss, has faced multiple controversies pre and post-release and the latest twist in this saga came yesterday when the police showed up at the doorsteps of the director's house. The film, a political drama, came under criticism for showing the ruling government in a poor light, and after widespread protests in the state, the makers buckled to pressure and decided to mute and remove the objectionable portions. Kamal Haasan, who had faced similar problems when Vishwaroopam released, tweeted in favour of the film and against the ruling government's methods.

முறையாகச்சான்றிதழ் பெற்று வெளியாகியிருக்கும் சர்கார் படத்துக்கு,சட்டவிரோதமான அரசியல் சூழ்ச்சிகள் மூலம் அழுத்தம் கொடுப்பது இவ்வரசுக்கு புதிதல்ல.விமர்சனங்களை ஏற்கத்துணிவில்லாத அரசு தடம் புரளும்.அரசியல் வியாபாரிகள் கூட்டம் விரைவில் ஒழியும்.நாடாளப்போகும் நல்லவர் கூட்டமே வெல்லும்.

— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) November 8, 2018

Rajinikanth in a statement later in the night, also came down hard against the protests and asked the people to respect the censor board which had passed the film.

தணிக்கைக்குழு தணிக்கை செய்து படத்தை வெளியிட்டபிறகு,அந்தப் படத்திலிருந்து சில காட்சிகளை நீக்கவேண்டும் என்று போராட்டம் நடத்துவதும், திரையிடத் தடுப்பதும்,படத்தின் பேனர்களை சேதப்படுத்துவதும், சட்டத்திற்குப் புறம்பான செயல்கள். இத்தகைய செயல்களை நான் வன்மையாகக் கண்டிக்கிறேன்.

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) November 8, 2018

While the news was still fresh that a new version will be playing out in the theaters from today, the police arrived at the house of director AR Murugadoss. Sun Pictures, producers of the film, alleged that it was to arrest the director

BREAKING NEWS : Police reach Director A.R.Murugadoss residence to arrest him.

— Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) November 8, 2018

With the director not at his house, the police had left. AR Murugadoss confirmed the same in a tweet soon after.

Police had come to my house late tonight and banged the door several times.Since I was not there they left the premises. Right now I was told there is no police outside my house.

— A.R.Murugadoss (@ARMurugadoss) November 8, 2018

When we reached out to the police station under whose jurisdiction the director's house came in, they said with the widespread agitation in the state, the next target could be AR Murugadoss and it was their intention to provide him with security. Since the director wasn't present at the time, they had informed his personal assistant of the same and asked him/the director to contact the police if they sensed any trouble. As of this moment, no contact has been established between the director's team and the police. It is speculated that the director was not present at his house as he was overseeing the editing work that was to be sent out to the theaters.

Tamizh Padam director CS Amudhan joined the list of celebrities expressing their solidarity with Murugadoss and Sarkar.

I strongly object to the fact that we were not given similar publicity, we also tried our best. This is totally partisan behaviour. #IStandWithSarkaar

— C.S.Amudhan (@csamudhan) November 9, 2018

This is a developing story...