Telecom industry wants Rajinikanth's '2.0' banned for depicting mobiles badly
What's the story
The mega-budget movie 2.0 starring Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar is already making waves about its potential for commercial success.
However, the film seems to have run into trouble with telecom operators who have laid allegations against the film for the promotional videos depicting mobiles and mobile towers in a negative light.
Here's what they have to say.
Complaint
What were the objections raised?
The objection was raised against the film's trailers by COAI, the Cellular Operators Association of India, on November 27.
They claimed the trailers showed that electromagnetic field emissions that come from mobiles and cell towers are harmful to the environment and all living creatures including human beings, birds and animals.
Notably, they alleged that the content, thus portrayed in the movie, was 'defamatory'.
Details
Who are the COAI, what did they say?
The COAI comprises Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel.
Besides claiming the promotional videos to be defamatory, they said it promotes anti-scientific attitude, endangers public order and commits several offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
They also charged the film with violating provisions in the Cinematographic Act, 1952.
COAI fears this depiction will create baseless fears and paranoia by spreading misinformation.
Information
The legalities of the IPC
The film's content has been considered offensive under Section 268, which addresses public nuisance, Section 505 which deals with statements conducing public mischief, and Section 499 which addresses defamation. It also accuses the film of prejudicing ongoing Supreme Court proceedings regarding harmfulness of mobile towers.
Redressal
What recourse are they seeking?
Rajan S Mathews, COAI's Director General said they were seeking to have the film's certification revoked and addressed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) accordingly.
They further requested the granted certificate to the trailer, teaser and promotional video, and Tamil language version of the movie be revoked till the CBFC decided on their submission.
They requested the movie's exhibition to be suspended, meanwhile.
Do you know?
An old controversy awakens
The brouhaha over negative portrayal of mobiles and phone towers has awakened a massively debated topic in India in the previous year when people had concerns about the harmfulness of electromagnetic field emissions, till the government stepped in, allaying fears citing lack of credible research.