The nationwide release of Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla starrer Gulaab Gang, scheduled for screening this Friday, was on Wednesday deferred for nearly nine weeks following a Delhi High Court order on a plea of activist Sampat Pal, who claims the film, which is based on her group Gulaabi Gang comprising women vigilantes in UP wearing pink sarees, will malign her image.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva restrained the film’s producers, Sahara One Media Entertainment ltd, and their agents from “releasing, exhibiting, distributing and promoting” the film till the next date of hearing on May 8.
The court was of the prima facie view that “irreparable damage and injury” would be caused to Pal if the movie gets released. It noted in its order that while the loss to the producers would be monetary, she will suffer both financial loss, as her copyright over Gulaabi Gang, and loss of reputation “which cannot be calculated in terms of money”.
Pal in her plea has claimed that her permission was not sought before making of the film and had alleged that it contains defamatory content which would affect her reputation. Pal was present in the court, dressed in a pink saree, which symbolises her group.
Her group is actively involved in fighting social injustices against women, at times, adopting unconventional means.
The court directed the film’s producers to immediately inform their distributors about the injunction on its release. While staying the release of the film — censored or uncensored — the court rejected the argument of the producers that Pal should not be granted any relief as she came to the court at the last minute despite knowing about the making of the film since March 2013, saying it finds no merit in the contention.
The court also said the film promos, shown in January 2014, depicted her “in the negative light and gave her a fresh cause of action”. It also said “if the defendants (producers) at their own risk make a film depicting a person in a negative light, they will have to take responsibility for the same”.
During the proceedings, Justice Sachdeva observed that even if the release of the movie can be pushed back, the reputation once lost will not come back. “Should we permit someone to be defamedIJ How do you compensate for loss of reputationIJ” the Bench asked.
Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for the producers, argued during the proceedings that the intention of Pal from the start was to derail the film’s release at the last moment as she took no action, till filing of the case, after sending a cease and desist notice back in June 2013.