The Bombay High Court today ordered a stay on the release of the film Ek Chhotisi Love Story after lead actress Manisha Koirala challenged the order of a single judge bench dismissing her plea urging deletion of certain objectionable scenes in the film. The film was slated for release on Friday.A division bench of Justice R M Lodha and Justice Dilip Bhosale admitted Koirala’s appeal, saying that the matter needs to be considered as ‘‘justice to the plaintiff will be irretrievably denied which cannot be compensated in any manner’’. The bench granted an injunction on the film’s release and posted the matter for final hearing on October 5.The judges also directed Koirala to give an undertaking that she would not seek any relief or damages from the film’s producer till final disposal of her appeal. Koirala, who was present in court today, was teary-eyed after hearing the verdict. Producer-director Shashilal Nair, for his part, did a disappearing act mid-way through the hearing.Koirala challenged the August 30, order of Justice F I Rebello, who held as integral four alleged ‘‘vulgar’’ scenes which have been deemed as ‘‘offensive’’ by the actress. Justice Rebello had dismissed a notice of motion with costs in a suit filed by Koirala.Koirala’s advocate Satish Maneshinde said pictures of his client were being used in posters all over the country and abroad ‘‘where she has a large fan following’’. Showing the judges advertisements of a teenage boy on parts of a female anatomy, said it is meant to convey to the public that it is his client’s body. ‘‘This is not art but a blue film,’’ thundered Maneshinde.Nair’s counsel K K Singhvi and Janak Dwarkadas said the film has gone out of his hands and third party rights had already been created. They argued that 97 prints of the film have been given to various distributors. In turn, they had reached exhibitors and from there to cinema halls. They said advance bookings had been made on September 2, and tickets had been sold out. After the verdict, Manisha said the Mumbai High Court has protected women’s dignity. ‘‘I am really grateful for the verdict,’’ she said.Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women is meeting on Friday over ‘‘the indecent representation of women in print and electronic media’’ and to discuss the issue in view of Koirala’s complaint against Nair.
