Madras HC seeks response on plea to ban movie reviews for first three days

The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Tamil Nadu's Information Technology and Digital Services Department, and other authorities, including YouTube and Google LLC, regarding a petition seeking a temporary ban on online movie reviews within the first three days of a film’s release.

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The petition, filed by the Tamil Film Active Producers Association, claims that early reviews—especially negative ones—can severely impact a film’s reputation and box office performance. The association requested a three-day moratorium on reviews to protect the interests of filmmakers.

Justice S Sounthar, while refusing to grant an interim stay, emphasized that film criticism falls under the purview of free speech and expression, which cannot be arbitrarily restricted.

T. Sivalingam, the association’s general secretary, argued that reviewers wield significant influence over audience perceptions and industry trends. The petition alleged that some individuals are deliberately hired to post negative reviews, often driven by business rivalries, which create biased opinions even before audiences have had a chance to watch the film.

Additionally, the petition highlighted a growing trend of YouTube channels using derogatory language in reviews to attract subscribers and views. Such actions, the producers argued, make it challenging to sell films to OTT platforms and television channels, further affecting the industry’s financial stability.

The court has sought responses from the authorities involved.