MADURAI:Refusing to entertain a petition praying to withdraw the Censor Board certification issued to the Tamil feature film ‘I’ starring actor Vikram for its alleged portrayal of transgender in a poor light, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court directed a transgender to approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for relief.
Passing orders on the petition filed by Bharathikannama, a division bench comprising of Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice S Tamilvanan made it clear that once a film is certified by the CBFC, any objections related to the film can be taken only to the Board first. If the CBFC does not grant relief, then the petitioner could approach the court.
The petitioner contended that the CBFC was duty bound to see that the movie had tried to humiliate and insult the transgenders using derogatory terms against them. A transgender was as a villain in the film ‘I’.
The petitioner also apprehended the film would promote violence against the transgenders and said the CBFC should exercise considerable care while certifying films that projected the minorities in poor light.
Hence she prayed to withdraw the clearance granted to the movie.