The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Tamil Nadu government, and YouTube in response to a petition by the Tamil Film Active Producers Association. The petition sought a ban on online movie reviews for three days after a film’s theatrical release and requested the formulation of guidelines for online reviewers.
However, Justice S. Sounthar declined to grant an interim injunction preventing YouTube channels from posting audience reactions recorded immediately after movie screenings. The judge emphasized that critical reviews fall under the purview of freedom of speech and expression, which cannot be curtailed, according to Bar and Bench. Justice Sounthar suggested that producers could counter negative reviews with positive publicity and that individuals could pursue legal remedies for personal grievances rather than seeking a blanket ban.
Petitioners’ Concerns
The producers argued that biased or malicious reviews can cause significant financial losses, particularly during the first three days after a film’s release, a crucial period for box office success. They highlighted that Tamil film producers have repeatedly requested influencers not to post reviews during this critical window to protect the films’ commercial performance.
Court’s Perspective
The court reaffirmed the importance of protecting free speech while acknowledging the producers’ concerns. It suggested that rather than imposing broad restrictions, affected parties could explore alternative solutions to mitigate the impact of negative reviews.
