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The Telangana High Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation plea filed against the release of the Telugu movie “R.R.R. Roudram, Ranam and Rudhiram”. It had been alleged that the movie which relates to Martyr Alluri Seetarama Raju tarnishes his image by projecting him under the employment of the British Government as a Police Officer.

The movie, which has been produced by D.V.V. Entertainments and has actor Ram Charan as lead is set to release on March 25, 2022.

The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili noted that firstly, the petitioner had not challenged the censor certificate granted to the movie and secondly, he had the remedy of appeal before the Central Government agasint the certificate granted.

Therefore, referring to the decision of the Bombay High Court in the case of Hiten Dhirajlal Mehta v. Bhansali Production, the bench concluded, "This Court, in the light of the availability of the remedy of appeal to the petitioner, especially in the light of the fact that the validity of the censor certificate is not under challenge, does not find any reason to grant relief to the petitioner in the public interest litigation."

The instant PIL was filed by a young student. His contention was that in the movie, Martyr Alluri Seetarama Raju has been shown in the uniform of a British Police Officer which is incorrect. 

Alleging that this tarnishes the image of the freedom fighter, the student had sought issuance of a writ of mandamus declaring "the picturisation of the life history of two legendary patriots, i.e., Martyrs Alluri Seetaram Raju and Komaram Bheem contrary to their lifestyle in the file “R.R.R.Roudram, Ranam and Rudhiram” as illegal and arbitrary."

He had further prayed for Court's direction to the respondent authorities to not issue censor certificate to the film so that release/screening of the movie can be prevented. 

However, in its counter affidavit to the PIL plea, the Central Board of Film Certification had stated that "the Censor Board constituted under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, provides the detailed procedure for grant of Censor Certificate and the film in question is a work of fiction and in a work of fiction certain cinematic liberties are permitted."

It had further been stated by the Censor Board that even if the contentions of the young student were accepted, the characters of Alluri Seetarama Raju and Komaram Bheem are portrayed as highly patriotic in the movie.

Case Title: Writ Petition (PIL) No.1 of 2022