Sunny Deol’s upcoming release Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak has moved from promotional buzz to legal scrutiny, weeks before its scheduled November 20 opening. A group of Delhi-based doctors has challenged the teaser in the Delhi High Court, and the court has now sought responses from the Centre, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and the film’s producers.
What the court is asking
Justice Amit Mahajan issued notices to the CBFC, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, producer M M Moviez and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. During the hearing, the doctors’ advocate asked the court to stop the teaser from being shown online, but no immediate order was passed.
- Replies have been sought from the Centre, the CBFC and the producers.
- The case will be heard next on November 16.
- Suryaa is currently scheduled to release on November 20.
Why doctors went to court
The petition has been filed by four Delhi-based doctors — Dr Nishant Soni, Dr Ashish Tomar, Dr Ravi Bhatia and Dr Shivam Vatsal — along with office bearers of D.O.C.S (Doctors of Corporate Society). They argue the teaser paints private-hospital doctors as money-minded and dishonest, at a time when medical professionals already face anger and attacks from patients’ families.
Their worry is sharpened by how the film is marketed. The trailer says the story is ‘inspired by unbelievable true events’ and promises to uncover a ‘shocking truth’ about the medical system. The petitioners fear viewers may treat a fictional story as fact and turn that mistrust on real doctors.
They also object to the portrayal of private hospitals allegedly declaring patients brain-stem dead and taking consent for organ donation, as well as the suggestion that doctors overcharge, push unnecessary tests and earn commissions.
What the doctors want
Beyond a takedown, the petition asks for the teaser to be removed from online platforms until it is examined, for changes to the film and promotional material if needed, and for a clear disclaimer that the story is fictional. The doctors have also urged authorities to bring online teasers and trailers under the film-certification process.
IMA has already raised the issue
The Indian Medical Association wrote to Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw more than a week ago, asking for an urgent review. The body objected to what it called a ‘generalisation of corruption within healthcare’ and a ‘depiction of violence against medical professionals’.
The bigger picture for the release
Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak is a Hindi adaptation of the 2018 Malayalam thriller Joseph, directed by M. Padmakumar. The story has already been remade in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, but this marks Padmakumar’s Bollywood directorial debut. With the next hearing set four days before release, the case leaves the film’s promotional window under a legal cloud even though no immediate order has been passed.
Source: Hindustan Times