Justice Devan Ramachandran made an observation, stating that concealing a gun inside a Bible causes displeasure among Christians. Similarly, if the same were done with the Gita, it would upset Hindus, and if it were the Quran, Muslims would be unhappy.
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KERALA: The Kerala High Court, presided over by Justice Devan Ramachandran, addressed a petition against the Malayalam movie ‘Antony’, which depicted a gun concealed within a Bible. This case, brought forth by Joji Varghese, has sparked a broader conversation about religious sensitivity and artistic expression in cinema.
Justice Ramachandran questioned the extent of intolerance towards religious references in films, asking,
“Should we be so intolerant that even for a passing reference to a book you should take up objection? Even if it is a Bible, doesn’t there need to be a negative reference or connotation for you to object?” He highlighted that such depictions, regardless of the religious text involved, are likely to upset some group. The judge noted, “Bible is used to hide a gun so Christians are unhappy. If it is Gita, Hindus will become unhappy. If it is Quran, Muslims will be unhappy.”
The judge also referenced the historical context of similar scenes in English cinema, particularly from the 1960s and 70s, suggesting that the concept is not new or unique to Malayalam cinema.
“Keeping a gun in a Bible is something that has been done umpteen times in English cinema in the 60s and 70s. It is just that Malayalis are doing it now,” he remarked.
Justice Ramachandran raised concerns about the potential benefits such petitions could inadvertently provide to filmmakers. He observed that the publicity, whether negative or otherwise, could increase the movie’s reach, saying,
“Only the movie makers will benefit from this petition. Did they ask you to file this petition? What movie is this? Antony? Has anyone watched this? This movie has already been examined by the censor board.”
Despite these observations, Justice Ramachandran agreed to review the contentious scene in court, asking the counsel to present it. The matter is set to be revisited after two weeks. The court’s handling of this case underscores the delicate balance between artistic freedom and religious sensitivities, a topic that continues to evoke strong opinions and discussions in India’s diverse and multicultural society.
The matter will be taken up after two weeks.
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