Telangana High Court dismisses PIL against release of movie RRR

The Telangana High Court last week dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition against the scheduled release of upcoming Telugu movie “RRR” [Alluri Sowmya v Govt of India]..A Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili disposed of the PIL that sought a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to not issue a censor certificate.“This Court, in the light of the availability of the remedy of appeal to the petitioner, especially in the light of the fact that the validity of the censor certificate is not under challenge, does not find any reason to grant relief to the petitioner in the public interest litigation,” the Court said. The Bench was hearing a petition by a young student who claimed that the film projected Alluri Seetarama Raju as working under the employment of the then British government as a police officer.It was the petitioner’s contention that the freedom fighter’s image was being tarnished by the film-makers by projecting him incorrectly..The CBFC responded to the contentions in detail by way of a counter-affidavit stating that the film in question was a work of fiction and thus certain cinematic liberties were permitted.Further, the CBFC stated that even if the contentions of the petitioner were accepted, the characters of Alluri Seetarama Raju and Komaram Bheem were portrayed as highly patriotic..The Bench while deciding the matter placed heavy reliance on the judgment of the Bombay High Court in the case of Hiten Dhirajlal Mehta v. Bhansali Production where the Court dismissed a PIL against the film Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt..[Gangubai Kathiawadi] Bombay High Court dismisses pleas against portrayal of entire area as red-light hub.The High Court took note of the fact that the petition did not challenge the censor certificate and under the Cinematograph Act, the Central government was empowered to suspend the exhibition of any film.Thus, finding that the petitioner had an alternative remedy, the PIL was dismissed..[Read Order]