Madras High Court Dismisses Plea To Prevent Screening Of "Dhurandhar 2" Movie In TN Till End Of Assembly Elections

The Madras High Court, on Friday (10th April), dismissed writ petitions filed against screening of Ranveer Singh starrer "Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge" movie in Tamil Nadu till the end of assembly elevtions in the State.

The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan noted that there was no law that prevent screening of a movie while the Model Code of Conduct was in place. The bench also noted that the petitioners had not challenged the certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification, without which, the court could not issue any direction to prevent screening of the movie.

"What is the law that a movie cannot be released when the Model Code of Conduct is in place? The CBFC has given a certificate. It's not challenged. Unless that is challenged, nothing can be done. The statutory body has permitted," the court orally remarked.

The Court said that it would dismiss the pleas and would pass a detailed order later.

The petitioner had sought direction to Adithya Dhar, Lokesh Dhar (filmmakers associated with the Dhurandhar movie), and Jyoti Deshpande (producer of the movie) to prevent the screening of the movie in the state till the counting of the assembly elections are over, considering the Model Code of Conduct in place.

The petitioner submitted that Chapter VII of the Model Code of Conduct deals with instructions to the party in power. It was submitted that Clause 4 of Chapter VII stated that "Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided".

The petitioner submitted that though the words used in the clause were public exchequer, the idea was to prevent the party in power, both in Centre and the State, from using mass media during the election period to advertise the achievements of the party. The petitioner submitted that the Dhurandhar 2 movie showcased the achievements of the party in power in the Centre (Bharatiya Janata Party) in terms of counter terrorism, money laundering, etc which was in violation of the MCC. The petitioner thus argued that the movie should not be permitted to be screened in the State till the end of assembly elections.

Another counsel, who had sought a similar prayer, submitted that the movie was calling for war between India and Pakistan. The counsel submitted that the movie had also caused communal riots which was evident from instances of violence in the northern part of the country. The counsel submitted that the movie, which is a war-mongering movie, should not have been permitted to be released in the first place.

The Court, however, noted that the petitioners had not challenged the CBFC certificate issued to the movie. The Court also noted that there was no law which prevented movies during the time of elections and was thus not inclined to entertain the prayer. The Court thus dismissed the plea.

Case Title: D Rakesh v The Chief Election Commissioner and Others

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 156

Case No: WP 14335 of 2026