The Jayam Ravi- Lakshmi Menon-starrer Miruthan, directed by Sakthi Soundar Rajan was the first zombie film in Tamil. It was screened recently at the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) in Switzerland, which concluded on July 9. According to director Anurag Kashyap, who was present at the screening, the audience laughed and “hooted the loudest” during the beginning of Miruthan — they actually laughed looking at the smoking disclaimers!
According to the film festival’s official website statement, Miruthan was screened last Wednesday. Apparently, the Udta Punjab producer was present there as his latest flick Raman Raghav 2.0 had its Swiss premiere. He took to social media and shared the response that Miruthan received at the NIFFF, “Film festival in Switzerland, showing the Tamil zombie movie ‘Miruthan’. Guess, where they laughed, hooted the loudest? Smoking disclaimers. (sic)”
However, Shakthi Soundar Rajan claimed that there was tremendous response from the local audiences for the film and the movie has been invited to other prestigious international festivals. He has even translated one of the favourable responses for the film from a French audience member — “Superb horror comedy Tamil full of action and zombies. Panting and rhythm, a great moment of relaxation.”
In the meantime, the followers of Anurag Kashyap had mixed reactions to his comments. While a few asked,”What’s insulting about it?”others said,”If adding the text of Smoking Disclaimer will make some people to give up smoking, then what’s wrong in it, you have to be proud.”
“Had it been practiced by Hollywood, then we would have said, Look, how progressive and conscious they are (sic)” remarked another person. “Stop looking westward all the time bro! Desi is good!! (sic)” one of Kashyap’s followers replied.
