Justice C. V. Nagarjuna Reddy of the High Court directed the Film Censor Board to see that two scenes were removed from the controversial Telugu feature film ‘Denikaina Ready’, produced by actor M. Mohan Babu on the ground that they were offensive and vulgar. The film was released in October 2012.
The Judge also expressed deep concern at the growing trend of pressure groups reacting violently in the name of hurting of ‘sentiments’ and silence of State.
He partly allowed the batch of writ petitions filed by one Chakilam Raghunatha Rao, State Youth president A.P. Bramhana Seva Samakhya, Dronamraju Ravikumar.
They sought cancellation of certificate issued by the Censor Board. They identified nine scenes which have shown Brahmins in poor light and hurt the feelings of the community purposefully.
Producers’ stand
In the 20-page judgment, he analysed the nine scenes that the petitioners complained about. The producers took a stand that there was no intention to hurt the sentiments and the freedom of speech and expression can not be interfered like this. The judge said that if each of these nine scenes was seen in isolation, they were offensive towards the Brahmin community.
The judge said that each scene cannot be judged like this, but had to be seen as part of film plot and storyline etc.
Specific scenes
He specifically referred to the scene where one character says that for money, the tail can be wagged and declared that this scene “lowers the image of Brahmin community”. Another scene in which a married woman talks about absence of husband etc. was not only obscene but vulgar. These two scenes are to be deleted. He deprecated the violent response to the films and said: “It is highly disturbing to note that in recent times it has become fashionable for different sections to take umbrage to certain films on the ground that their religious communal and ethnic sentiments are affected by films.
They go on rampage by attacking theatres and indulging in physical violence. Such behaviour and conduct has no place in civilised society.”
Governments were found fault with for their lame duck response and said, “Unfortunately the State is bowing to the sentiments of these elements and failing to maintain law and order”. He reminded that the freedom of speech and expression cannot be interfered unless the film is “vulgar, obscene, prurient and spreads hatred among sections”.
Mr. Justice Reddy cautioned that freedom of expression cannot be curtailed merely from a purist of view point or moralistic angle.
