'Desiya Thalaivar' release: Madurai High Court seeks CBFC response on PIL against Muthuramalinga Thevar biopic

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday has asked for a counter affidavit from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and other concerned parties regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenged the censor certificate granted to the upcoming biopic 'Desiya Thalaivar', based on freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.

The film is slated for release on October 30, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the leader.

Allegations by president of Devendrar Panpattu Kazhagam

According to a report by The New India Express, a PIL filed by M Chakkaravarthy, president of Devendrar Panpattu Kazhagam, alleged that the film contains scenes that could potentially degrade certain communities and their leaders. Chakkaravarthy shared that such content might incite communal disharmony and violence, and that the court should cancel the certificate issued to the filmmakers.

What were the court proceedings

During the proceedings, the deputy solicitor general requested additional time to submit a counter affidavit, following which a bench comprising Justices Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan issued notices to the producer and director of the movie.

Seeking a special committee

In addition to the original PIL, another petition was tagged along seeking the formation of a special committee, headed by a retired high court judge, to review the film.

This petition called for a comprehensive assessment of the content, claiming that such a panel could objectively determine whether the film contains objectionable material that could threaten public order.For the unversed, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar is remembered as a prominent freedom fighter and influential political leader in Tamil Nadu.Directed by Aravind Raj, the film features JM Bashir in the lead role of Muthuramalinga Thevar, with notable supporting performances from Bharathiraja and Radha Ravi.

Disclaimer: This article is based on reports regarding ongoing legal proceedings at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court concerning the film 'Desiya Thalaivar'. The content provided herein summarizes the petition, allegations, and court directives (such as issuing notices and seeking a CBFC counter affidavit) as reported by media outlets. The legal status of the film's release is subject to the final judgment and orders of the court. Readers should note that the claims made in the PIL are allegations and have not been proven in court. This information should not be interpreted as legal commentary or a definitive statement on the film's content.