2.0 days before release, Chitti fights telcos

2.0 days before release, Chitti fights telcos

The country’s most expensive film at nearly Rs 540 crore, is

receiving opposition from one of the most unexpected quarters — telecom

tower companies and cellphone makers.

The two have petitioned the censor board to revoke the certification of

the Rajinikanth-Akshay Kumar mega starter, and suspend its exhibition as

it spreads “misinformation” about radiation impact from mobile towers and

smartphones.

“We have requested the censor board to revoke the certification already

granted, including for the teaser, trailer and other promotional video and

Tamil language version of the film with immediate effect,” Rajan Mathews,

Director-General of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said. “We have requested that the exhibition of the movie be

suspended in the meantime.”

COAI has written to the Central Board of Film Certification that the film depicts mobiles and towers in a defamatory manner.

“The movie including its teasers, trailers and other promotional videos depict mobile phones and mobile towers in a

defamatory manner.”

COAI alleged that the promotional videos are based on the theme that electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions — dubbed as

harmful radiation by a section of activists — from mobile phones and towers are dangerous to living creatures and the

environment, including birds and human beings. It said that such a depiction “will create unfounded fear and mass paranoia by

spreading misinformation about the adverse impact of mobile towers and mobile phones.”