In a last-minute legal development, a resident from Thankamani village in Idukki district has urgently filed a plea with the Kerala High Court. The petitioner seeks to invalidate the certification granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for the film ‘Thankamani the Bleeding Village,’ just hours before its scheduled release. Alleging defamation and misrepresentation of events in the movie’s title, the petitioner contends a violation of Section 5(b) of the Cinematograph Act.
This move comes after the petitioner previously approached the court, requesting the removal of allegedly problematic scenes from the film. However, Justice Devan Ramachandran disposed of the petition, citing incomplete CBFC evaluation at the time. The petitioner was granted the liberty to return after certification for further concerns.
The Dileep-starrer, based on a real-life incident in Thankamani Village in October 1986, faces criticism for its “incorrect and derogatory portrayal.” The petitioner highlights a teaser suggesting fictional events involving men hiding in agricultural lands and women being raped by the police, events not recorded in official documentation. The actual incident, involving a disturbance between students and staff of the ‘Elite’ bus, resulted in a fatality and another losing limbs in a subsequent shootout.
Challenging the film’s depiction, the petitioner emphasizes that while the ‘Elite’ bus incident and the subsequent fight are acknowledged, the later scenes of men hiding in fields and police assaulting women are imaginative creations. The petitioner argues that such fictitious scenes violate the fundamental rights of the villagers and bring disgrace.
The case is currently before Justice Devan Ramachandran, with Advocate Jomy K Jose representing the petitioner and Central Government Counsel Suvin R Menon appearing for CBFC. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated crime thriller ‘Thankamani,’ starring Dileep, is set to hit screens on March 7.
