Pause button pressed in Prabhakaran drama

The positives, negatives and soundtrack of the controversial film Prabhakaran, currently being held in a film laboratory in Chennai, India, will be returned to the film’s producers, depending on the outcome this week of a court case pending in Chennai.

Thushara Peiris, the director, who was recently in Chennai to oversee the processing of the Tamil version of the film, was attacked by a mob outside the Gemini Colour Laboratory, where he was working on the film. The film director was forced to leave India without the film copy.

On April 8, a Chennai city court issued warrants on Mr. Peiris, the film producers, and the Indian police commissioner. The order was issued on a civil suit filed by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which alleges that the film offended the sentiments of the Tamil community.

“After the court hearing, we sent a letter to the Gemini Colour Laboratory inquiring about the film,” Mr Pieris said. “However, the studio said a decision would be taken only after the next hearing, which is set for April 15.”

Mr Peiris said the authorities in India had expressed a wish to view the film again.“If we receive the film copy, we will go ahead with the release of the film, as planned, on April 25. However, if we do not receive the film on time, we will have to postpone the release by a week and schedule it for May 2,” Mr Peiris said. The film director said he has received several death threats.