Chennai: “The freedom of expression is for all,” the Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by an advocate seeking a cancellation of the censor certificate for ‘Mersal’.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was issued a censor certificate to actor Vijay starrer ‘Marsal’ for the dialogue of Anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Madras High Court said that ‘Mersal’ is only a movie, not real life.
The petitioner had argued that the censor certificate should be canceled because the film was full of false propaganda about ‘India and counterfeit dialogues and scenes’, which clearly stated about India’s new taxation system and the goods and services tax Act of 2017 There is a misconception in between the audience. He said, “No photo will be certified for public performance, which will reduce the ethical standards of those who see it, and prevailing laws will not be ridiculed so embarrassed for violating such laws.”
The petitioner also demanded an interim stay on the screening of the film released on October 18.
After the court’s decision, the producers decided to remove those scenes which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had objected to last Saturday. The BJP has called this film as “false” about GST and objected to the talks about the removal of dialogue on central taxation.
A scene from the film shows a character which strikes the government failing to provide public health care despite charging national GST of up to 28%. This scene quarreled among ruling BJP members, who wanted to remove it from the film.
