A private screening of a short film was stopped in Tuticorin on Friday. Police believed that the film, titled Maranathin Madiyil Mazhalaigal with caption ‘Tuticorin – South India’s Bhopal?’, would disturb peace following the anti-sterlite protests against Vedanta group that happened in Tuticorin in May.
Director of the film, Pugalenthi Thangaraj, said in a TOI report that Maranathin Madiyil Mazhalaigal is based on true events. “There is no mention of a factory in Tuticorin. It is out of a concern that another Bhopal tragedy should not happen in Tuticorin. It is an appeal to officials and government in this regard,” he said.
The eight-minute short film was said to focus on the plight of children who suffer the most in industry accidents. The director said, “They were innocent and did not know as much as what the elders knew when the gas leaked from Union Carbide Corporation after midnight on December 3, 1984. Many children died, and many born after the incident were deformed.”
The film’s screening in Tuticorin was sponsored by Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai. It was planned for a closed group of traders at 7 pm on Friday, at their association hall. Director Pugalenthi says due to pressure from the police they had to stop the screening at the last minute.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Tuticorin reportedly said they did not stop the screening by force. They only made an appeal to the traders body not to screen any film that might disturb peace. He said, “Cases will be registered against persons screening provocative video, or sharing provocative audios.”
The 61-year-old director Pugalenthi has previously faced troubles for his other films too. On January 21 this year, the theatre premier of his film Kadal Kuthiraigal faced problems. It was based on Sri Lankan Tamils and anti-nuclear protests at Kudankulam. Theatre owners asked him for a No Objection Certificate because intelligence agencies started visiting theatres enquiring about the film. It had been cleared by the CBFC after 68 cuts.
In 2011, his film Uchithanai Muharnthaal based on Sri Lankan Tamils, satarring Sathyaraj, Seeman and Naseer faced similar problems. Director Pugalenthi said, “A leading Chennai-based distributor released it but faced trouble due to pressure from police and intelligence units. The film was released but the initial hurdles affected the film post release as well.”
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