The Madras high court today cleared decks for Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Kabali’, saying that the film’s release can not be stopped based on an allegation that tickets are being overpriced at theatres.When a petition filed by one Devarajan came up for hearing, justice N Kirubakaran refused to ban the release of ‘Kabali’ and also dismissed the plea.
In his petition, Devarajan stated that theatres have already started bookings for ‘Kabali’, which is going to hit the screens on July 22. “Tickets are being sold for much higher rates than the prescribed fares,” he added.
Stating that poor and middle class people are being forced to buy tickets at a higher price, he sought a ban on ‘Kabali’.
Only a few days ago, the HC banned websites that illegally upload the movie. The order by justice N Kirubakaran said: “The petitioner is said to have suffered heavy loss due to online and video piracy of his movies ‘Theri’ and ‘Kanidhan’, and his apprehension regarding illegal downloading, streaming, etc of his upcoming movie by rogue websites is well-founded.”
“Hence, this court is convinced to grant an order of interim injunction restraining the licensed ISPs listed as respondents 7 to 175, from giving access to the rogue websites listed in the schedule to the petition, and other similar websites indulging in online piracy and infringement of copyright pertaining to the film ‘Kabali,’ and more particularly prohibit them in territorial jurisdiction of India from exhibiting, releasing, projecting, screening or in any manner providing platforms for downloading the film Kabali which is already censored and slated for release on July 22,” he added.
