Tamil film producers file petition seeking ban on movie reviews for three days

Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA) filed a writ petition in Madras High Court seeking a ban on movie reviews for three days from release on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X. According to The Hindu, the film body sought direction from the Centre and State government. The case will be heard on Tuesday, December 3.

The film body requested the Centre and State government to come up with guidelines to be followed by online film critics while reviewing movies on their YouTube Channels, X, Facebook and other social media platforms.

On November 20, another association, Tamil Nadu Producers Council (TNPC) issued a statement asking theatre owners to ban YouTube channels from recording video reviews and opinions inside the theatre premises after the film screenings.

After the issuance of the statement, some of the theatres stopped allowing YouTube channels from entering the theatre premises.

The TNPC’s statement mentioned that the reviewers should stop personal attacks and ‘incitement of hatred under the guise of film reviews’. They mentioned such reviews affected Indian 2, Vettaiyan and Kanguva.

The statements from Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA) and Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council (TNPC) indicate that Suriya’s Kanguva is the latest film that was affected by harsh reviews that personally attacked the makers and actor.