Tamil Nadu theatres refuse to screen Madras Cafe

CHENNAI: The fate of Madras Cafe (Movie Review) explains how fringe elements flex muscles when the government of the day fails to uphold the spirit of freedom of expression.

The state government and police are refusing to stick their neck out on the LTTE issue as there is a large section that is sympathetic towards the outlawed outfit, though it is virtually non-existent now.

While pro-LTTE voices are vocal, those who oppose it are muted in their reaction.

For the same reason, while the voices seeking a ban on Madras Cafe are vocal, many from the film fraternity keep mum. They "wouldn't react" till they watch the movie.

Despite a full house attendance across the nation for Madras Cafe, the movie is still a no-show in Tamil Nadu. Buckling under pressure from a few outfits, Madras Cafe joins the list of films that have run into trouble for political content.

Describing it as an unhealthy trend, retired high court judge, K Chandru, said, "The Government should not buckle under such pressures. The Supreme Court has said that governments should give security to theatres and protect the art."

Justice Chandru had faced similar outcries over films such as Kutrapathrikai (2006) and Da Vinci Code (2006), but had upheld the rights of the censors to give a certificate for public exhibition of those films where a ban was sought.

Speaking on similar lines, PUCL national general secretary V Suresh said he was against the negative manner in which Sri Lankan Tamils were stereotyped as outsiders of the island nation. But he felt the Tamil Nadu government should take a more assertive stand against those who seek a ban on movies. Calling it a threat to democracy, he said, "A democracy grows in a clash of thoughts and we must encourage contrary views."

But the groups opposing the movie say theatre owners are right in refusing to screen the film. They feel the movie would create social turmoil. Film director and secretary of Tamil Nadu Directors' Association, R K Selvamani, who was one of the 15 people who watched the Hindi version of the film on August 20, said the movie drives home the point that the Tamils' struggle in Sri Lanka was not justified.

On the contrary, the film supports the Sri Lankan army and government, he said. Joining the chorus to ban the movie, director Ameer, a pro-Tamil activist, said the plot of the movie had a negative message and the censors perhaps did not understand it.

Cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan who is making a film titled Ceylon, said it was good to have subject consultants on films that have debatable content. Contrary to its predecessors such as Vishwaroopam and Thalaivaa, Madras Cafe has not seen a social media outrage by Chennaiites over the restriction on the film, although a few youngsters said they are irked by such bans on films.

-Times of India