HM bats for Kamal Haasan, says artists have full liberty

The Centre on Tuesday came out in support of film star Kamal Haasan, who is facing problems in releasing his mega budget film 'Vishwaroopam', saying everyone in the country enjoys the freedom of expression and artists have full liberty to continue their choice of work.

"We are a free society. There is freedom of expression. There is liberty for artists. We have a Constitution," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told the media in New Delhi.

He was reacting to a question on the actor's statement that Tamil Nadu does not want him to stay in the state and that he might leave.

Asked about the problems being faced in the release of 'Vishwaroopam', Shinde said there was some problem in some states and he would look into it. "We will see. We will enquire into what has happened," he said.

Upset over the hurdles caused by the ban on the release of 'Vishwaroopam', an emotional Haasan on Tuesday said Tamil Nadu does not want him to stay in the state and he might seek a "secular" place in the country or overseas.

Meanwhile, Haasan will move Supreme Court against a two-week ban on his film.  He lost his case in the Madras high court on Tuesday, soon after he announced he had "settled amicably" with Muslim groups by agreeing to delete contentious scenes and words from the movie.