Petition seeking to ban screening of "Madras Cafe" filed

The Madras High Court bench here today ordered issue of notices to Chairman, Central Board of Film Certifiction, Tamil Nadu DGP, producer and director of the Bollywood movie "Madras Cafe" on a PIL seeking to ban the film and quash certification issued to it.
Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice P Devadoss ordered to issue notices to them on a petition filed by B Stalin, an advocate, seeking to cancel the clearance issued by the censor board to the film of actor-producer John Abraham as it had allegedly "objectionable contents".
He alleged the screening of the film might lead to law and order problem as it allegedly hurt the sentiments of Tamils and portrayed them as terrorists.

The petitioenr said he had given representations to the Tamil Nadu DGP to ban the film, which is set to be released worldwide on August 23, and the CBFC to cancel the clearance certificate.
However, he said the reprsentations were not considered.
The case was posted for hearing tomorrow.

The Court had on August 16 dismissed a similar petition filed by another advocate Ezhilarasu who claimed the depiction of Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka as terrorists in the film raised concerns among the Tamil population in India.
If the film was permitted to be released in its present form, it might affect the law and order situation in the state besides of the sentiments of the Tamils, he had argued.

However, the court dismissed the petition stating that he had not substantiated with materials that the film would cause law and order problem in Tamil Nadu.