‘Amaran’ makers make visual changes, get new censor certificate after legal battle

a scene from the movie Amaran

Rajkamal Films International, producers of the film starring Sivakarthikeyan Amaraninformed the Madras High Court on Friday (December 6, 2024) about blurring a mobile phone number featured in a romantic scene in the film and obtaining a new censor board certificate before releasing the film on Netflix on Thursday (December 5). Gave. , 2024).

Appearing before Justice S Sounthar, senior advocate PH Arvind Pandian, representing the production firm, said the writ petition filed by an engineering student to cancel the censor certificate had become infructuous as the producers made necessary changes in the scene in question Were and received a new certificate.

VV Vagisan, a student from Alvarathirunagar, Chennai, had moved the High Court because the random phone number displayed in that particular scene was his personal number. He claimed that ever since the film was released in theaters on October 31, 2024, he had been receiving continuous calls from moviegoers.

When the judge pointed out that there was nothing left in the writ petition due to the changes made in the controversial scene by the producers and the new censor certificate obtained by them, the counsel for the petitioner said, he had also sought an interim prayer for award. Compensation of ₹1.1 crore.

Wondering how compensation could be awarded in the writ proceedings, the judge said, the petitioner would have to resort to the common law remedy of filing a civil suit, seeking compensation for the violation of his privacy and the mental agony caused to him by his performance. Demand will be made. Phone number in the movie.

Since the petitioner’s counsel insisted on pursuing the writ proceedings, the judge directed the production firm to file a formal counter affidavit on the writ petition by December 20 and serve notices to the Central Board of Film Certification, the film’s director Rajkumar Periyasamy and Also ordered. Bharti Airtel Limited.

Although the petitioner’s counsel insisted on issuing a direction to the telecom operator to submit the incoming call records of the phone numbers from October 31, the judge said, the petitioner cannot use the writ proceedings to collect material required for filing the civil case. could. suit.

Justice Sounthar also said that, however, he can direct the telecom operator to block all incoming calls to the petitioner’s mobile phone number for a period of time, if he agrees to such action. Otherwise, the remedy for the petitioner was only before the civil court and not before the writ court, he pointed out.