Can CBFC Change Film's Name If Found To Be Stigmatic/ Likely To Affect Law & Order?: Kerala High Court Asks Centre
The Kerala High Court has asked the Central government whether the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has powers to change the name of a film if it is found to be stigmatic or likely to create law and order issues.The bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran was hearing a plea concerning Dileep-starrer 'Thankamani' which is apparently based on a real-life incident that occurred in...
The Kerala High Court has asked the Central government whether the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has powers to change the name of a film if it is found to be stigmatic or likely to create law and order issues.
The bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran was hearing a plea concerning Dileep-starrer 'Thankamani' which is apparently based on a real-life incident that occurred in Thankamany village in Idukki district, in October 1986.
The plea filed by a resident of the village through Advocate Jomy K Jose asserts that the film incorrectly portrays the incident and contains fictitious rape scenes and thus, naming of the film after the village is 'stigmatic'.
Noting that petitioner apprehends that the film may bring disrepute to the village and rekindle the wounds of residents, Court orally observed,
“…the movie in question has not been scheduled for release yet, this is recorded. The Central Government Counsel to respond to the assertion of the petitioner that the regulatory authority obtains the right even to change the name of a cinematographic film if it is found to be stigmatic to a community or likely to create law and orders issues in future."
The matter is now listed on February 6.
The plea states that the teaser hints at incidents of men in the village hiding in the agricultural lands and the women of the village being raped by the Policemen. Petitioner argues that such incidents never happened and there are no official records or documents of such crimes.
It is stated that the incident in reality involves a ruckus between students and staff of a private bus named 'Elite” in which, a native of the village lost his life in the shootout and another man lost his both limbs.
Case Title: Biju VR v. Central Board of Film Certification and Ors.
Case Number: WP (C) No. 2199/2024