Kollywood star director Pa. Ranjith got a big relief in Madras high court after the Madurai bench quashed an FIR that was filed against the filmmaker for criticising the Chola dynasty.
Speaking at the death anniversary of anti-caste leader T.M. Umar Farooq, the filmmaker had on June 5, 2019, criticised Raja Raja Cholan, saying the caste system was dominant during his rule, during which lands of Dalits were taken and the Devadasi system was also introduced.
Subsequently, the Thanjavur police had registered a suo motu case against the director for creating caste enmity. Hearing a petition filed by Ranjith, a single-judge bench of Justice G. Ilangovan said that the director’s views show only an objection over the caste system and beyond that, we cannot stretch it to drag him to face criminal prosecution.
According to reports, the judge noted in his order, ” [The] voice of the oppressed is not meant to be oppressed and criminalised. But to be listened [to], discussed, addressed and remedied. The caste system, its formation, effects and ill-effects are one of the most discussed topics, which has been spoken ever since its inception in history.”