The controversy over the new Tulu cinema Girgit appears to be headed towards a happy ending.
The Mangalore Bar Association has offered to withdraw its suit against the cinema team before a court here provided the team muted the objectionable dialogues and edited the objectionable scenes within the given time frame.
The association and the producer and director of the film submitted on Monday a joint memo in the court of Principal Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mangaluru, for settling the case amicably, according to the general secretary of the association H.V. Raghavendra.
Addressing a joint press conference with Manjunatha Attavar, producer of the film, and Roopesh Shetty, its director and actor, here on Tuesday, the general secretary said that its producer and director have also filed an affidavit to the court on muting the objectionable dialogues within three days from Monday and editing the objectionable scenes within 40 days after following the due procedures with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
He said that the cinema team has already apologised and expressed its regret for hurting the sentiments of the advocates.
Following a suit by the association, Principal Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class Harisha on Thursday restrained producers and distributors of the film from screening the film with the objectionable scenes till September 17.
Mr. Shetty said that with the editing, the screening time of the film, which has been given U certificate, is likely to come down by two minutes. The team has filed an application before the CBFC on Tuesday for muting and editing the objectionable dialogue and scenes, respectively.
Senior advocate M.P. Shenoy said that the association had raised the objection as certain dialogues in it amounted to contempt of court. It sent wrong message to the society. It had no other intention of coming in the way of screening the film. The association’s measure was to uphold the dignity of advocates and judiciary.
The president of the association N. Narasimha Hegde said that the advocates wished that the cinema completed 100 days. The association always supported the artistes and steps for promoting Tulu art and culture. But it would take any moves of damaging the reputation of advocates in social media seriously. It would continue to act against such objectionable postings in social media relating to the particular case and others.
