Madras High Court Judge Decides To Watch Vetri Maaran's 'Manushi' Movie After CBFC Denies Certification
The Madras High Court has decided to watch the Tamil movie “Manushi”, in a special screening on Sunday, after the Central Bureau of Film Certification refused to certify it, alleging that it portrayed the State in a bad light. Justice Anand Venkatesh decided to watch the movie after its producer, and an acclaimed director Vetri Maaran, approached the court to quash the...
The Madras High Court has decided to watch the Tamil movie “Manushi”, in a special screening on Sunday, after the Central Bureau of Film Certification refused to certify it, alleging that it portrayed the State in a bad light.
Justice Anand Venkatesh decided to watch the movie after its producer, and an acclaimed director Vetri Maaran, approached the court to quash the recommendations made by the Revising Committee, suggesting around 37 excisions/modifications in the movie.
Vetri Maaran had previously approached the court challenging the CBFC's refusal to certify the movie. CBFC had then informed the court that it would certify the movie if the objectionable content was removed.
Though an objection was raised with respect to the suggestions of the CBFC, since it could not be gone into in the earlier plea, the court had given liberty to Vetri Maaran to challenge the same in the manner known to law. The same have been challenged in the present plea.
Maaran has argued that the objections raised and the reasons for the objection are not in conformity with the CBFC guidelines. It has been argued that the list of modifications/cuts has been made without the subjective and objective satisfaction of the reviewing committee.
Maaran has submitted that the Board's argument that certain scenes of the movie, which show police brutality, would portray the police force in a bad light, is illogical and unreasonable. It has been submitted that a strong criticism of the state machinery, however extreme, cannot be termed as defamation to the state and the same would come within the right to criticism through artistic expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Pointing to the Supreme Court's decision while considering the permissibility of portrayal of Phoolan Devi in the movie 'Bandit Queen', Maaran argued that the portrayal cannot be called as defamation in the context of the theme of the movie.
Thus, arguing that the guidelines, with respect to judging a movie had not been followed in the present case, Maaran sought for quashing the revising committee's recommendations and to certify the movie within a time stipulated by the court.
Case Title: Vetri Maaran v The Chairman and Another
Case No: WP 31016 of 2025