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This is an archive article published on October 28, 2017

Madras High Court junks PIL against Mersal certification

Suggesting that the petitioner take up real issues and fight social evils instead of targeting a movie, the bench reminded that they cannot issue gag orders against those who criticise demonetisation

mersal, tamil movie gst dialogue, vijay, tamil nadu bjp, congress, tamil culture, indian express Suggesting that the petitioner take up real issues and fight social evils instead of targeting a movie, the bench reminded that they cannot issue gag orders against those who criticise demonetisation. (Representational)

The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to revoke the certificate issued to Mersal, a movie starring Vijay that kicked up a controversy for its ‘’anti-GST’’ dialogues. Justices M M Sundresh and M Sundar said the voices of the minority sections cannot be stifled in a democratic system, and that it is up to the viewers to take a call on the contents of a movie.

Suggesting that the petitioner take up real issues and fight social evils instead of targeting a movie, the bench reminded that they cannot issue gag orders against those who criticise demonetisation. “This is democracy, people have their right to freedom of expression, and that applies to films as well,” the court said.

Read | Mersal row: Vijay thanks fans in note, signs using Christian name

The petitioner argued that “false information about GST and Digital India scheme would encourage people to evade tax”.  Meanwhile, sources close to the producers of Mersal said the release of the Telugu-dubbed version may be delayed. “The board saw the movie on Monday and promised a U/A certificate, similar to the Tamil version. But the hard copy of the censor certificate has not yet been released by CBFC, which is crucial to release the movie,” said a source.

The Telugu version was to be released on Friday.

Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More

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