It has just been a few days after the much-awaited release of the trailer of Ranveer Singh’s new movie- Jayeshbhai Jordaar. The movie is directed by Divyang Thakkar.
This movie is a social commentary on problems with extremely patriarchal values, mainly female infanticides.
This problem has plagued India for a long time, where female foetuses are aborted as 1)There Is an intense desire to have a male child as only a male child can light your pyre after death ensuring you can get Mukti from the cycle of re-birth, and 2) Girls are considered a financial burden on the household making them unwanted.
But a scene in the trailer has already put the movie in legal trouble.
What is the scene about? Why has it stirred up such a legal debate? And what are the ramifications of this case in the release of the movie?
Jayesh Bhai Jordar fil Poster
Credits:- Live Law
What is the scene about?
The trailer features a scene where Shalini Pandey’s character visits a gynaecologist with her family. During the sequence, Boman Irani’s character, who is the head of the family, questions the doctor about the sex of the baby as he wants Ranveer to have a son. As the trailer continues, Ranveer is also seen asking the doctor about the baby’s sex and in response, she uses a code meaning that it is a female foetus.
Boman Irani in the movie in the charecter of strong patriarch.
Credits:- Leisure Byte
Why has it stirred up such a legal debate?
There is context to the case under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994, it is illegal in India to use any technique to identify the sex of a fetus after conception.
Indians also worship movies so filmmakers should be careful about what they are showing and how.
Thus these facts are a solid foundation for the case.
According to the advocate Pawan Prakash Pathak “The ultrasound clinic scene where the technology of ultrasound for sex selection is being advertised openly without censor,” and according to “sections 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 6 & 22 of the PC and PNDT [pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques] Act, same is not allowed & hence the instant PIL.”
Due to a lack of caution on the side of the filmmaker, even though his intentions might be right the scene and the film has come under intense judicial scrutiny.
What are the ramifications of this case on the release of the movie?
After watching the trailer, the bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla put forward their observations.
“There is nothing to show in the trailer that the lady is taken to the doctor clandestinely.”
“What is coming out is, any pregnant woman can be routinely taken to the centre with a sonography machine and this can be done without any fetters.”
The bench also noted that “Unless we see for ourselves and are satisfied, we’re not going to permit this. You seek instructions or otherwise, we’ll have to stay this.”
From the observations and statements above we understand that the ball is not in the moviemakers’ court and they will have to come up with solid defences to defend the movie or else the movie might never see the light of the theatre.
This shows how a small slip up by the director can lead a whole movie to go belly up.
The latest Update is that the film has been cleared to be relaeased after putting adequate disclaimers on the scene in question.
Only if the filmakers had paid a little more attention on the details they would have been saved from this legal mess.
Acting Cheif Justice Vipin Snaghi and Justice Navin Chawla
Credits:- Twitter
Credits:- Indian Express, NewsBytes and Live Law
Featured Image Credits:- Firstpost
