A writ petition has been filed in the Madras High Court Bench here seeking a directive to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to censor movie scenes which portray ‘Thiruman,’ also known as Naamam (a holy symbol sported by Vaishnavites on their foreheads), as a symbol to depict ‘cheating’.
The petitioner, Periyanambi Sri Narasimha Gopalan of Ambasamudram Taluk in Tirunelveli district, also sought a directive to the State Home Secretary and the Director-General of Police to deny permission for demonstrations in which participants sported ‘Thiruman’ on their foreheads to show that “they have been cheated either by the government or by others.”
When the matter came up before Justice M. Venugopal on Wednesday, he directed the High Court Registry to list it before a Division Bench, after obtaining appropriate orders from Justice V. Dhanapalan, the administrative judge of the Bench, since the grievance of the petitioner as well as the relief sought for by him were in the nature of a public interest litigation petition.
In his affidavit, the petitioner pointed out that the ‘Thiruman’ was a representation of the feet of Lord Narayana, and it was one of the religious duties of Vaishnavites to sport the symbol on their forehead, stomach, chest, hands, neck, nape and back. The “Puranas, Vedas as well as Upanishads [ancient religious scriptures] all highlight the significance of the Thiruman,” he said.
However, over the years, the symbol was being turned into one of mockery, as the one sported by those who get cheated by others, and it was being projected so in the media, too.
Even protests were being organised at many places by using ‘Thiruman,’ the petitioner said, and contended that such depiction hurts the religious sentiments of thousands of Vaishnavites like him.
Claiming to have sent representations to the authorities concerned on the issue, he said the inaction on their part was “frustrating and humiliating.”
CBFC guidelinesHe also pointed out that the guidelines issued by the CBFC under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, provide for censoring “visuals or words contemptuous of racial and religious feelings.”
