The Hindu : National : Delhi High Court judge to watch disputed film

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Friday, Nov 25, 2005

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National

Delhi High Court judge to watch disputed film

Staff Reporter

Petition to be heard on November 29

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court said on Thursday that it will watch Hindi film "Mangal Pandey: The Rising" before deciding on a suit seeking a permanent injunction on its screening on the ground that it was defamatory to the hero of the First War of Independence of 1857.

Justice A.K. Sikri decided to watch the film to firm up his opinion on the allegations levelled by the petitioners, descendants of Mangal Panedy, against the director of the film Ketan Mehta, joint producers Deepa Shahi and Bobby Bedi and others.

Mr. Justice Sikri would watch the film on November 27 at 4 p.m. in a theatre in the capital.

Mr. Justice Sikri also allowed reporters covering the High Court to watch the film along with counsel for both parties.

Mr. Bedi, in his reply to the suit, said the plaintiffs had no legal right to file the suit, as the relief claimed in it was in respect of defamation of a dead person, which was not actionable.

"The film is not disparaging to Mangal Pandey from any angle; rather it glorifies his courage and sacrifice and portrays him as a hero,'' Mr. Bedi said.

The petition will now come up for hearing on November 29.

In the suit, plaintiffs Raghu Nath Pandey, who claims himself to be the great-grandson of one of the real brothers of Mangal Pandey, and Omkar Nath Pandey, his son, alleged that the defendants were guilty of distorting the history of the First War of Independence by falsely claiming that the story of the film was based on "actual events.''

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