'Dasavatharam' case hearing on May 20

The petition filed by Sri Vaishnava Dharma Samrakshana Society in the Madras High Court against Kamal-starrer "Dasavatharam" (yet to be released) raising objections to some of the scenes and the very title of the film, has been posted for May 20 after Director K.S. Ravikumar, Producer Oscar Ravichandran and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) filed their counter-affidavits.

The petition came up on May 13 before a division bench comprising Justice G. Rajasuriya and Justice M.Sathianarayanan. They asked whether the film would be released in a week's time. Counsel for the respondents (Ravikumar, Ravichandran and CBFC) replied that the film was not slated to be released within the next week. Then the judges posted the matter for hearing on May 20.

Society president Govinda Ramanuja Dasa while filing the petition last week argued the case himself. According to him, the scenes depicting a violent clash between Saivaite and Vaishnavaite sects of Hinduism; Kamal Haasan stepping on "Pranava Mantram" and the Bhagavad Gita; and the scene in which Kamal is tied to the idol of Lord Ranganatha and pushed into the sea, offended the religious faith and sentiment of Vaishnavaites. Stating that the film was ready for release on May 15, Dasa said "Dasavatharam" denotes the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and the film carries this ''sacred name" to lure a Hindu audience. He pleaded that the producer and the director be restrained from releasing the film as it would lead to "untold hardship and irreparable loss".

The counter filed by advocate K. Ravi on behalf of Director Ravikumar said, "There is no scene depicting either Mr. Kamal Haasan or other character in the film trampling on the mantra "Om" or the sacred Bhagavat Gita As such the film contains no offensive scenes, especially that of any clash between Saivaites and Vaishnavites. The story and the events depicted from the 12th century are part of the history of Tamil Nadu. The scene referred to in the affidavit of the petitioner (Dasa) is a historical fact. That the hero was tied to the idol before it was left in the ocean is fiction added for the purpose of the film."

Producer Ravichandran stated in his counter that without knowing the entire storyline and backward events of the movie, watching only one or two clippings of scenes in the trailer, the statement that the title itself ridiculed Hindu religious sentiments was premature and misconceived.

He further submitted that there were no violent clashes between Saivaites and Vaishnavaites. Kamal does not step over "Om" or over the Bhagavat Gita. Kamal Haasan does not play the role of Sri Ramanujachariyar and the story is not about Sri Ranganathar or Srirangam. Therefore, the film does not depict as though Sri Ramanujachariyar was tied with the idol of Lord Sri Ranganathar and being pushed into the sea. Nor was there any depiction of terrorists entering the sanctum sanctorum of any temple.

The Regional Officer of the Central Board of Film Certification Babu Ramasami, in his counter affidavit, said the petitioner has not explained as to how and why the title "Dasavatharam" offended the religious faith. The title does not violate any of the guidelines laid down in the Cinematograph Act and a film with the same title had been certified by the CBFC.

The CBFC regional officer stated that the film does not contain any violent clash between Saivaites and Vaishnavaites and no scene in the film would foster hatred between the sects. The CBFC which issued the certificate to the film on April 22, was fully convinced by the film, he averred.

Expressing surprise, Oscar Ravichandran told the media that the censor board has given a "U" certificate for the film and it has not yet been released. "How can anyone assume the story can hurt a particular community? How can anyone object to a film based on inferences drawn from a mere trailer? He asked.

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Dasavatharam