Has been certified, SC says in response to petition blocking “The Kerala Story” from being shown in theatres
The Kerala Story
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied an immediate hearing on a petition to halt the release of the controversial film The Kerala Story.
A panel of Justices and B.V. Nagarathna noted that the censor board has already given the picture a clean bill of health and that the petitioners should take their concerns about the film’s rating to the proper body. Cases involving hate speech are now being heard by this court. The bench said that the screening of films is handled separately from cases involving hate speech, hence the request to halt the film’s release was denied.
Both senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Nizam Pasha, whose movie is set to premiere this coming Friday, pleaded with the bench to take their case.
The bench stated, “This has gone through certification,” during the hearing. Unfortunately, we cannot include this in the hate speech lawsuit.
According to Pasha, the movie’s trailer on YouTube has received over 16 million views, making it the most widely viewed example of hate speech and a prime example of audiovisual propaganda.
To the attorney, the bench said, “You should move the high court or any other appropriate forum, but this cannot be here.”
Pasha insisted that they are out of options and must act quickly. But the judge refused to hear the argument against the film.
The bench made the oral observation that there is a distinction between this and “other matters you brought to our notice,” emphasising that it cannot associate the plea with the hate speech case. Why don’t you go ahead and petition the relevant high court?”
Sibal asked the bench to review the YouTube trailer’s transcript during lunch and said they would call and file a petition on Wednesday.
After stating that “this has gone through a process of certification,” the bench ruled that the appeal will not be heard. You need to go to the highest court in your area of jurisdiction and challenge the certification before we can help you. The Supreme Court is not the place to launch a new initiative.
After hearing Sibal‘s case, the bench said, “This may not be the forum where you will get your relief.”
On May 5, a film featuring Adah Sharma caused a stir when it claimed that 32,000 women had fled the state before its scheduled premiere.
The ruling CPI(M)-led Left and the UDF immediately called for the film’s cancellation after seeing the teaser.
The “allegations” made in the film have prompted the Kerala State Committee of the Muslim Youth League to offer a prize of Rs 1 crore to anybody can provide proof of them. Pratheesh Viswanath, right-wing activist and head of the Hindu Seva Kendra, has also given Rs 10 crore for proof that no one from Kerala has travelled to Syria to join IS.
Sudipto Sen helms the picture. Four female college students from Kerala are followed as they make the transition to joining Islamic State.
Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani, and Sonia Balani also star in the movie. Vipul Amrutlal Shah is the show’s producer.
