 The
first-look posters of Vijay’s forthcoming film, Thuppakki,
plastered on walls across Tamil Nadu show the actor shirtless
and smoking a cigar, have caused a stir amongst social and
anti-tobacco activists. Sowmya Anbumani, wife of former union
minister Anbumani Ramadoss and chairperson of the environmental
group Pasumai Thayagam, was the first to raise objection to the
posters stating that this is not only a violation but also
punishable under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Product Act.
In her press release, she said, “The film has violated Section
9(2) of the notification issued by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare. Accordingly, there has to be a health warning
scroll in legible and readable font across the scene as a ticker
stating that smoking causes cancer, smoking kills and so on.
Meanwhile, social activist Selvakumar from Mogappair has filed a
complaint with the city Commissioner of Police requesting action
against Vijay, the film’s director Murugadoss, producer Thanu,
and others responsible for the poster and other print ads that
have violated the tobacco act.
Speaking to DC, Kannan, the state organizing
secretary to HMK said, “Being an icon in the Tamil film
industry, Vijay should set a good example for the younger
generations. We request him and his producer to remove such
posters and portions from the film, if any. Or else we
will protest in front of the actor’s house and also send bundles
of cigars to his house to show our displeasure.”
It may be recalled that after style mannan Rajinikanth was
thrashed for posing with a cigar in Baba, he quickly changed
this to flipping a chewing-gum instead of a cigarette in his
next movie Chandramukhi. Neither Thanu nor Murugadoss was
available for comment |
