Adipurush Ban: Allahabad HC Issues Notice to Manoj Muntashir, Asks Centre Whether It Will Take Any Action in Public Interest
June 27, 2023
The Allahabad High Court at Lucknow on Tuesday issued notices to Manoj Muntashir, who is Dialogue Writer of Adipurush movie, while dealing with two PIL pleas filed against the exhibition of the film Adipurush.
In a hearing today, the Court asked the Union of India whether it is considering taking action under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, to protect the public interest.
This provision enables the government to call for the record of any proceeding pending before or decided by the Central Board of Film Certification.
The Court also allowed an application to include Manoj Muntashir Shukla, the dialogue writer of the film, as a party respondent in one of the PIL pleas and directed for notice to be issued to him.
The Court criticized the filmmakers of Adipurush for depicting religious characters like Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman in an objectionable manner.
It noted that the CBFC should have taken action while granting certification for the film.
The petitioner’s counsel drew the Court’s attention to objectionable coloured photographs of some parts of the film and guidelines for certification of films for public exhibition issued under Subsection 2 of Section 5-B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
The petitioners argued that the film may adversely affect the sentiments of people who worship Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Hanuman, etc., and would create disharmony in society.