Court Case Against Reviewers And Critics

Of late, it has become increasingly common for social media users and people in general to engage in film reviews. Apart from the conventional web media, who have been converting film reviews for many years now, there’s a new wave of YouTube reviewers and critics.

Now, a court case has been filed against these online reviewers and critics. And incidentally, Kerala High Court took up the case and sent a notice to Indian ministry of broadcast to present clear guidelines that are in place for online film reviewers.

The case has been filed by Mubeen Rauf, the director of a Malayali film titled Aaromalinte Aadhyathe Pranayam filed a case at Kerala High Court, asking to bar any online reviewers from sharing their reviews on his film for a week from its theatrical release.

In his petition, the director mentioned that these online reviews spread negative narrative against films and they’re not good for the film industry by default. He adds that these negative reviews impact the financials of the film industry, which in turn puts the livelihood of thousands of families at risk.

The Kerala HC took the case for hearing and asked the union ministry for clear guidelines on online reviews. The petition is to stop reviewers from sharing their reviews on the said film for 7 days from its theatrical release. If the court approves the same, this could set a new precedent in the film industry, albeit in a confined manner.