The Madras High Court Bench here on Tuesday reserved its orders on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Puthiya Tamilagam president K. Krishnasamy against Karthi-starrer Komban .
The petitioner had opposed the release of the movie and grant of censorship certificate to it on the ground that its story revolved around animosity between different caste groups and therefore it had the potential to incite violence in southern districts.
After hearing arguments advanced by counsel for the petitioner as well as the film producer who contended that the movie had nothing to do with caste animosity, Justices S. Tamilvanan and V.S. Ravi said that they shall pronounce their verdict by Wednesday afternoon.
The judges were also apprised that a private screening of the film, as ordered by the court on Monday, to a committee headed by two retired judges of the High Court could not take place fully on Tuesday morning due to certain untoward incidents at a preview theatre in Chennai.
Not wanting to go deep into the issue in order “to avoid unpleasant things,” the judges directed counsel for the producer to make sure that the two retired judges K. Ravirajapandian and C. Arumugaperumal Adityan were paid an honorarium of Rs.2 lakh each at the earliest.
Later, the judges heard the case on merits with petitioner’s counsel W. Peter Ramesh Kumar contending that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had committed contempt of court by issuing a censorship certificate to the movie on Monday when the court was seized of the issue. Rebutting the contention, CBFC counsel K.R. Laxman said that the certificate was issued only as per norms. Appearing for the film producer Gnanavel Raja, senior counsel R. Viduthalai said that the petitioner had made wild allegations even without watching the movie.
Private screening to a committee headed by two retired judges could not take place fully on Tuesday
Post-Censor Censorship
Thevar Magan
Tamil and Dalit intellectuals have criticised the film for glorifying the Thevar community, a politically and socially dominant community in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu
Sundarapandian
Filmmaker Prabhakaran's Sundarapandian, featuring actor Sasi Kumar in the lead role, was accused of sensationalising caste pride and honour killing in the opening sequences of the film.
Kutti Puli
The director of Komban, M. Muthaiah's earlier film was also hauled up for its pro-Thevar tilt. The film was accused of glorifying the dominant caste group in southern districts and endorsing anti-Dalit views.
Nattamai
The adoption of market economy coincided with the nation-wide mobilisation of dominant backward castes in India, which had its impact on cinema as well. Other egs: Chinna Gounder, Ejaman
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