HC refers Tamil feature film for mediation

Chennai, Jun 18 ()

The Madras High Court

has suggested the maker of the Tamil feature film on the alleged rape and murder of a newsreader of LTTE-controlled TV channel in

Sri Lanka

during the war to go for mediation with her family members. '

Porkalathil Oru Poo

' (A Flower in

Battlefield

), directed by K Ganeshan, apparently deals with the life of a television journalist,

Isaipriya

, who read news and anchored programmes in LTTE-run television and was killed during the last phase of the war. After the Central Board of Film Certification refused clearance for its screening, and the decision was upheld by the

Film Certification Appellate Tribunal

as well, the director moved the court seeking permission for public screening of the film. Counsels S Duraisamy and V

Elangovan

argued that the film merely portrayed what had happened during the 'Eelam war' and that stopping its release would amount to curtailing the freedom of expression. After the news of the film became public, Isaipriya's mother

Vahisan Dharmini

and sister

Vetha Ranjini

moved the court seeking injunction against releasing the film. After hearing the matter recently, Justice

T S Sivagnanam

said, "This court is of the view that an attempt could be made to explore the possibility of settlement by resorting to mediation." Noting that Isaipriya's mother and sister were not in India, the judge said the high court's Mediation and Conciliation Centre could arrange for video-conference facility to enable the two to interact with the mediators attached to the court. The judge then adjourned the case to June 27 for further hearing. COR BN SMN