The Madras High Court has upheld the suspension against actor Vishal Krishna from the Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council (TFPC). The Court’s resolution states that judgments of the High Court and the Supreme Court cannot interfere with disciplinary proceedings initiated by the TFPC. Hence, it is up to the Executive Committee of the TFPC to issue or revoke a suspension against the actor.
The Council and Vishal have been at loggerheads ever since Vishal blamed the Council for was not doing enough to curb film piracy, alleging repeated inaction on their part despite being fully aware of the situation. Vishal was then suspended for three months by the Producer’s Council after he failed to apologise for criticising the Council in an Ananda Vikatan interview.
Following the suspension, Vishal said he felt he had done nothing wrong. He said, “I had casually commented that the council meetings happen over Bonda and Bajji. I do not see what is wrong with that. It is a legitimate food item, everyone consumes it. Why get offended over a casual comment?”
In December last year, the Madras High Court issued a notice to the Producer’s Council and its President Kalaipuli S Thanu. The notice was delivered after Vishal filed a petition regarding his suspension, asking the Court to grant an interim injunction restraining Thanu from implementing the temporary suspension order against him.
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“The council has suspended me though there were no derogatory remarks neither against the council or its office-bearers. I received a notice on August 31 directing me to withdraw the comments made at the press briefing and also to tender an apology. But, I denied the allegations through a reply notice dated September 9,” Vishal said soon after the summons.
The TFPC has issued a statement saying there was no personal vendetta in their decision to suspend the actor. They also reiterate the Court’s resolution that only the executive committee of the Council have powers to suspend.