The Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA) has moved the Madras High Court, seeking a three-day ban on online reviews following a film’s release. The association argued that negative reviews immediately after release often harm films’ box office performance and urged the court to restrict such reviews on platforms like YouTube and social media during this critical period.
TFAPA contended that while reviews are a legitimate form of expression, malicious and biased criticism driven by personal or business rivalries misleads audiences and causes significant financial losses. The petition also called for government intervention to frame guidelines regulating reviews to ensure fairness and constructive criticism.
Hearing the plea, Justice S. Soundar issued notices to the Central Government, the Tamil Nadu Government, and YouTube for their responses. However, the judge noted that film reviews and criticism fall under the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression, raising questions about the feasibility of imposing such restrictions.
The court’s observations have sparked discussions on balancing creative freedom with responsible criticism, a recurring issue in the film industry.