Petition Cites Negative Reviews as a Threat to Box Office Success
The Madras High Court has issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Tamil Nadu Information Technology and Digital Services Department, YouTube, and Google LLC, seeking their response to a petition requesting a ban on digital media platforms from reviewing new movies within the first three days of their release. The plea, filed by the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, argues that early reviews significantly harm films’ reputations and box office performance.
Petition Highlights: Impact of Early Reviews
The association’s general secretary, T Sivalingam, asserted in the petition that reviewers wield substantial influence over audience perceptions and industry dynamics. According to the plea, negative reviews—sometimes orchestrated due to industry rivalries—can skew public opinion even before viewers have a chance to watch the films. The association also highlighted a growing trend among certain YouTube channels of publishing biased or derogatory reviews aimed at increasing subscriber numbers and viewership.
Such practices, the petition contends, leave producers struggling to secure profitable deals with OTT platforms and television channels, thereby threatening the financial viability of their films.
Court’s Stand on Freedom of Speech
Justice S Sounthar, while addressing the plea, declined to grant an interim stay on movie reviews, citing the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. “Film criticism is an essential aspect of free speech and cannot be curtailed,” the court remarked.
The Call for Regulation
The petitioner requested regulatory intervention, emphasizing the need to protect filmmakers from undue financial losses caused by premature and often biased reviews. The plea suggested barring reviews during the crucial first three days post-release to ensure fair audience reception and prevent manipulation of public opinion.
Industry Implications
The case underscores the increasing friction between filmmakers and digital content creators, particularly as online reviews play an ever-larger role in shaping audience choices. While the court has not yet made a final ruling, the debate brings to light critical questions about balancing freedom of speech with industry protection.
This news report is curated with insights from multiple reliable news sources.
