Court stays panels for review of controversial Telugu films

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh High Court Friday stayed the appointment of two panels by the state government to review two controversial Telugu films - "A woman in Brahmanism" and "Denikaina Ready".

The two Telugu films triggered a row after Brahmin organisations alleged that the movies have hurt the sentiments of the community. The government had formed two separate committees after the organisations staged protests and demanded a ban on the movies. The high court, which heard the petitions by filmmakers to challenge the appointment of review committees, observed that the government has no power to appoint a panel after a film is cleared by the censor board. It directed that no action be taken with regard to the committees, till further orders. A committee, headed by Women and Child Welfare Principal Secretary Neelam Sahani, Wednesday submitted a report recommending a ban on "A Woman in Brahmanism". The committee felt that the film was picturised with only an eye to "obscenity". "The scenes in `A Women in Brahmanism` are intended to hurt the sentiments of one particular caste and it is not acceptable for public screening," the committee said in its report. The government had appointed another committee to review "Denikaina Ready" starring Vishnu Manchu, son of veteran actor Mohan Babu, who is also the producer of the film. Brahmin organisations have been demanding a ban on the movie on the ground that it portrayed the community in poor light. The matter also reached the state human rights commission last week after a group of people protesting against the movie in front of Mohan Babu`s house in Hyderabad were beaten up. Brahmin groups lodged a complaint with the rights commission while Vishnu filed a counter-complaint alleging that their house was attacked by the protesters. Some Brahmins were continuing their fast in Hyderabad, demanding a ban on the movie, which was released last month. IANS