The Tamil Nadu Government has told the Supreme Court it has not issued any order imposing a “shadow or implicit ban” on ‘The Kerala Story’, a multilingual film that has triggered a massive controversy over religious conversion. The State Government claimed that despite the state providing necessary security to theatres and multiplexes, their owners decided to stop exhibiting the film from May 7 because of lack of enthusiastic response from the general public.
The State Government, in its reply to the petition filed by the makers of the film alleging a de-facto ban in the state, said amidst objections and protests the movie was released in 19 multiplexes throughout Tamil Nadu on May 5. “The film was heavily criticized after its release, with some Muslim organizations alleging that the film spreads “anti-Muslim hate” and “Islamophobia” among the common public and has been produced solely with the intent to polarize other religions against Muslim,” it said.
Questioning the maintainability of the plea filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the State Government said, “It is submitted that the government of Tamil Nadu has not issued any order banning the public exhibition of the film, nor is there a de-facto ban on the film in the state”. Tamil Nadu Government said adequate police protection provided by the state facilitated the theatre owners to screen the film throughout Tamil Nadu on May 5 and 6 despite backlash from certain Muslim organisations.
“However, due to the lack of reception from the general public, theatre and multiplex owners of the State decided to stop exhibiting the film from May 7,” it said, adding the content of the petition alleging that the State has imposed a “shadow or implicit ban” on the film is false and baseless, and is vehemently denied.
The affidavit filed by additional director general of police (law and order) of the State said on May 5, the DGP of Tamil Nadu had issued instructions to all commissioners of police and district superintendents of police to provide adequate security and protection to every cinema hall that screened the film. While West Bengal banned the movie after three days of screening in theatres, Tamil Nadu has not banned the film but the exhibitors have withdrawn from cinema halls owing to security concerns. The top court had asked the Tamil Nadu Government to specify measures taken to provide adequate security to theatres screening the film.
