People should not be so intolerant, the Kerala High Court remarked on Tuesday as it heard a petition filed against Malayalam film Antony.
The petition was filed by one Joji Varghese who alleged that one of the scenes from the movie—a gun hidden in the Bible—has hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community.
The court agreed to watch the “objectionable”scene, but opined that people should not be so intolerant, reported the Live Law.
“If you want you can produce the video,” Justice Devan Ramachandran said.
"Should we be so intolerant that even for a passing reference to a book you should take up objection?,” the court asked, noting that such scenes were depicted in English movies as early as in 1960s and 1970s.
It further questioned how the book in the scene is said to be the Bible since it was a fleeting shot.
"How do you know this is the Bible? ...The statement says it was as a fleeting moment...it was such brief that it could not be registered in the mind of the viewer…,” Justice Ramachandran said.
The court also remarked that such petitions would only benefit the movie makers who could use the publicity, negative or otherwise, to increase the reach of their movie.
The matter will be taken up for further hearing after two weeks.
Directed by Joshiy, Antony stars Joju George, Chemban Vinod Jose and Kalyani Priyadarshan in the lead roles.
