Film Reviews By Vloggers: Kerala High Court Seeks Explanation From Governments (Image:instagram.com/aromalinteaadhyathepranayam)
The Kerala High Court on Monday sought explanation from the State and Central governments to curb negative movie reviews circulated online by vloggers on the release day of the film.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Mubeen Rauf, who directed the movie Aaromalinte Adyathe Pranayam, starring Amana Sreeni and Siddique Saaman in the lead roles. He sought a gag order to ensure that social media influencers and vloggers are not publishing any reviews of the film for at least seven days following a movie’s release.
The petition states that the online vloggers are uploading negative reviews even without watching the movie and is affecting the film by prohibiting audience to come and watch the movie in theatres. He also alleged that certain vloggers are threatening to release negative reviews if not paid by the movie makers.
Justin Devan Ramachandran on hearing the case observed that movies are intellectual properties which involves reputation, sweat, blood, and aspirations of too many people associated with it.
‘’While the right of free speech is inherent and constitutionally guaranteed, it certainly has to be tempered with reason and restraint, as are constitutionally required under article 19(2). A fair criticism of an intellectual property, be that a movie or otherwise, and a pernicious attempt to blackmail, and extort, are two different aspects, which have to be clearly seen through and dealt with distinctly’’, Live Law quoted the observation.
‘’Just as an attack on a property is a criminal offence, a pestilential review deliberately done with the afore intent is no less, because eventually, both are attacks on tangible properties’’, the court added.
Advocate CR Rakesh Sharma appeared the court on behalf of the complainant. They argued that the movie Aaromalinte Adyathe Pranayam, released on October 6 was immediately crticised by the vloggers who presented negative reviews for the movie within minutes of its release, reported OnManorama. He demanded that the government should put some restrictions on such activities, since the vloggers are dismantling the efforts and dreams of a considerably large amount of people.
Mr Rauf observed a time when film criticism had a credibility and people took it as a trustworthy profession. But now, anyone who is facilitated with a smartphone can destroy a film within a very few times of its release.
He appealed to the High Court to ensure guidelines and restrictions for film reviews on social media. Advocate Shyam Padman was also appointed as the amicus curiae to assist the court.
