Kerala: Film critics, social media platforms booked for negative reviews of Malayalam movie

A director claimed that the accused had targeted his work with the intention of extortion.

Oct 26, 2023 - 17:30

Kerala: Film critics, social media platforms booked for negative reviews of Malayalam movie

The Kerala Police has registered a case against online film reviewers and social media platforms following a complaint by a film’s director, The News Minute reported on Wednesday.

Ubani E, the director of the Malayalam movie Rahel Makan Kora, filed a complaint stating that the accused targeted the movie soon after its release on October 13 by posting negative reviews about it on social media.

The director claimed that this was done with the intention of extorting and bringing him disrepute. Ubani also alleged that one of the accused threatened to further “harm the film” if he took legal action against him.

Among the accused is Hains, owner of a cinema promotion company named Snake Plant, The Hindu reported. Others include YouTubers Arun Tharanga and Aswanth Kok, a person with a Facebook account named anoopanu6165, operators of YouTube channels NV Focus, Trend Sector 24X7 and Travelling Soulmates with a social media handle soulmates55. Social media platforms YouTube and Facebook have also reportedly been booked.

They were booked under Indian Penal Code Section 385, which pertains to putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion, and Section 34 – acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention – and the Kerala Police Act Section 120 (O) for causing nuisance violation of public order.