CHENNAI: The Central Board of Film Certification (TN) on Wednesday refused to clear the Tamil movie 'Thambivudiyan', which deals with the Cauvery water issue, and referred it to the Rivers Committee.
Film director Raja Mahesh, revealing the broad storyline, said: “The film’s hero fights for water in his village. In the ensuing struggle, one rowdy who is a henchman of an MLA gets killed. The hero then kidnaps the wife and daughter of a local minister and promises their release only when water is released to the areas in need of water. In the end the issue is settled when the water is released by the government in exchange for the hostages.
The censor board raised objections over two issues: One, the raking up of the Cauvery river water dispute; and two, the way the resolution of the problem is shown - kidnapping and release of hostages in return for water.”
The director has been asked to show his film to the Rivers Committee, which he plans to do in two days’ time. “If the Rivers Committee here fails to clear my film I will take the issue to Delhi and Mumbai, at the national level in order to get the permission,” he said.
Unfazed by the current development, he said: “I anticipated objections when undertaking a project like this. But I feel that such issues that affect people have to be shown in films. Fasts and agitations by filmmakers last for a few days but make no impact as the effect wears off. I am a native of Thanjavur and have seen the problems faced by farmers.”
The film, which took around a year to make for the debutant director, Raja Mahesh, stars Aditya, Manisha, Kadhal Dhandapani and Nizhalgal Ravi amongst others and has been produced by M Theatres.