Language in cinema is director's call, says high court on profanities in 'Churuli'

Churuli poster

Kochi: Cinema is the artistic creation of the director and it is his artistic discretion to choose the language that has to be used in his films, the High Court of Kerala observed while rejecting a petition seeking the removal of the movie, 'Churuli', from an OTT platform.

Petitioner Peggy Fenn of Thrissur sought the removal of the movie from OTT platform citing the abundant use of profanities in the film directed by Lijo Jose Pellisserey.

Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, who considered the petition, ruled in favour of the movie based on a report by a team that watched the film. The Director General of Police constituted the team, which found nothing illegal in the movie.

The court also observed that no one has been forced to watch the movie, available only to paid subscribers of the OTT platform. The petition was aimed at grabbing the limelight, the court said.

The high court also pointed out that artistic freedom is part of the freedom of expression. No one could dictate that 'Churuli', which narrates the tale of a group of criminals hiding in a forest, should use decent language.

The Central government submitted before the court that the censor board has no role in movies released on OTT, and such movies are not certified. Sony Pictures India argued that OTT is not like TV channels or movie theatres, and each programme is preceded by a warning and rating.

'Critics may not have watched the movie'
Even those who had created the language used in 'Churuli' might not have watched the movie in full, the high court observed.

People comment on movies after watching the clips circulated on WhatsApp and Facebook, the court said, adding it is injustice to write against movies on social media without watching them.

A movie is the result of several months of hard work. If there is any illegality in movies, let the police look into it, the court said.

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