Allahabad HC Issues Notice to ‘Adipurush’ Writer Manoj Muntashir

The Allahabad High Court has directed a response from the Union government regarding potential measures to safeguard the public interest in relation to the screening of the movie "Adipurush." The Court has granted an application to include Manoj Muntashir Shukla, the dialogue writer of the movie under discussion, as a party in the case and has issued a notice to him. The court has specifically inquired about the government's intention to exercise its revisional powers under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. This provision grants the Central government various authorities, such as the ability to modify or restrict the exhibition classification of films or even suspend their screening.

Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Shree Prakash Singh, constituting a bench, have scheduled the next hearing for today, June 28. The Deputy Solicitor General has been directed to gather comprehensive instructions from the Central Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the Central Board of Film Certification.

This decision was made following a request from Senior Advocate SB Pandey, the Deputy Solicitor General of India, who sought time to verify facts and receive instructions from the relevant authority. He also mentioned that the Central government possesses revisional powers that could be utilized in this situation. Additionally, he stated that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) may not reconsider the certificate already issued, especially since a disclaimer has been included in the film stating that it is not based on the Ramayana.

However, the Court raised doubts regarding the adequacy of such a disclaimer to assert that the film is not related to the Ramayana.

During the court proceedings, advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, representing one of the petitioners, brought the Court's attention to objectionable and colored photographs sourced from the movie "Adipurush." She argued that specific dialogues in the film, as well as the portrayal of Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Hanuman, Ravan, and Vibhishana's wife, among others, deviated from the established guidelines for such depictions. In support of her argument, she referred to the guidelines stated in Section 5-B (2) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which pertain to the certification of films for public exhibition.

According to the petitioners, the film raised concerns about the authenticity of the esteemed epic Ramayana and tarnished the cultural legacy of Ayodhya and the Hindu faith. The petition highlighted that the movie's trailer was crude and inappropriate, causing anguish to the religious sentiments of Hindus. Additionally, the petitioners pointed out that despite the Allahabad High Court's notice to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during a hearing in January 2023, the board has yet to provide a response to the matter.

The case is scheduled for another hearing this afternoon.