'Vishwaroopam' released in Gujarat, response tepid

Kamal Haasan-directed Vishwaroopam was today released across multiplexes in the state amid tight security, with very few cinema goers opting for the film.

Multiplex Owners Association president Manu Patel told PTI that "Vishwaroopam was released across the state peacefully".

"However, the response from viewers was bleak. Viewership was merely 10-15% compared to other movies on the opening day," he said, adding that multiplex owners are expecting the numbers to pick up in the coming days.

On January 23, Tamil Nadu government had banned the film for two weeks in the face of opposition by some Muslim outfits who claimed that it portrayed the community in a negative light.