Petition to remove scenes from Ok Ok - Oru Kal Oru Kannadi

Chennai: A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) not to certify feature films with scenes depicting Hindu sanyasis and spiritual leaders in bad taste and insulting or abusing them.

In its petition, the HinduDharma Sakthi, represented by its secretary N Devasenathypathy also sought a direction to Tamil Film Producers Council and the director of the Tamil film "Ok Ok - Oru Kal Oru Kannadi" to remove scenes in the movie which hurt Hindu religious sentiments.

The film was produced by Udhayanithi Stalin, son of DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Devasenathypathy said in the trailer of the film, which he had seen, the manner in which a seer's character had been created was highly unnecessary. The character was totally disconnected to the movie's main theme, he alleged.

The creation of the character was with a "mala fide intention" to hurt Hindu religious feelings, he alleged.

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In a counter affidavit, CBFC Regional Officer V Packirisamy said the board judged a film in its entirety as per the Cinematograph Act and the Centre's guidelines. The contentious scene in the film in no way denigrated or defamed Hinduism. A committee had carefully examined the film and issued the certificate.

Noting that the board had not passed any scene which would hurt religious sentiments, the CBFC said it was not right to comment on the film without seeing it fully.

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"A particular scene from a film or in any work of art could not be judged in isolation," the Packirisamy said.

The court has reserved orders on the writ plea.