Womens' organizations demand ban on Telugu movie 'Madhyanam Hatya'

Hyderabad, Sep 4 (IANS): Women's organisations here received a shot in the arm when the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed producers of the Telugu murder film "Madhyanam Hatya" to delete the poser "Have you ever wished your wife were dead" from their publicity material.

A bench comprising judges B. Sudershan Reddy and K. C. Bhanu said that if the producers did not alter the publicity material the police would take steps to delete the offending subtitle.

The film, which released in theatres Friday, has been made by noted film director and producer Ram Gopal Varma.

The bench had before it a writ petition filed by Manjula Kumar, a practising advocate, contending that the offending subtitle "incited violence" and thus attracted the provisions of criminal and penal laws. She alleged that the filmmaker had tried to "scandalize" the institution of marriage.

The case will come up for hearing after 10 days.

Following the court order and vociferous protests by women's organisations, who also disrupted screening of the film at a city theatre Friday, the producer has agreed to delete the subtitle from the publicity material.

However, the activists are demanding a complete ban on the film, saying it encourages husbands to kill their wives.

The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) is demanding a total ban on the movie.

"The movie is horrible with many objectionable scenes. It is against women and provokes husbands to kill their wives," said AIDWA president Punyavathi and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the film was not banned.

She criticized Censor Board members for stating that there was nothing wrong in the movie.

"The film shows many ways of killing one's wife and packing off her body," said B.V. Vijaylakshmi of the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samakhya.

She said such films based on obscenity and violence were encouraging domestic violence and crimes against women.

Criticizing Ram Gopal Varma, the activists wondered what message he was trying to convey through such films. "Is he only interested in ruining family lives," asked Jyothi.

They said the poser "Have you ever wished your wife were dead" on the posters was indecent and could incite violence.

Punyavathi led a protest at Odeon theatre in the city. The protestors tore the film posters and set them afire. Some of them entered the theatre and persuaded viewers to come out saying the movie hurt the sentiments of women.

The murder flick starring J. D. Chakravati, Amani, Priyanka and others was released Friday. Chakravarti, who plays the role of a film editor, kills his wife (Amani) as she suspects him of having a relationship with his assistant (Priyanka).