India's most expensive movie '2.0' is anti-scientific: COAI

Lucknow: Indian cinema has been producing movies with brave plot, breaking all the religious and social stigmas with its strong script. Sometimes due to this bravado, many times Indian cinema suffers outrage of many social, religious and Censor Board's whip.

In such a similar instance India's most expensive film '2.0' with a budget of Rs 540 crore, is facing a unique and unexpected protest from telecom sectors across India.

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This sci-fi movie came under scrutiny when in its trailer it showed the harmful effects of cellular phones and towers, in a defamatory manner.

“The movie including its teasers, trailers and other promotional videos depict mobile phones and mobile towers in a defamatory manner.”

It is to be mentioned that 'Cellular Operators Association of India' (COAI) claimed that the teaser and trailer of the film depicts that the electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from mobile phones and towers are dangerous to living beings and to the environment, including birds and human beings.

It stated, “will create unfounded fear and mass paranoia by spreading misinformation about the adverse impact of mobile towers and mobile phones.”

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Well for many decades some sections of activists have been debating on electromagnetic field emitted by cellular towers and phones as harmful radiation causing many health issues among living beings and nature at large.

According to COAI, the movie promotes “obscurantist and anti-scientific attitudes against mobile phones, towers and mobile services", is against public interest, defames telecom companies and violates the telecom sector’s constitutional rights by depicting “mobile phones and mobile towers as harmful to living creatures and the environment including birds and human beings on account of electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from them.”

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However, according to WHO cell phone usage increases the risk of cancer, which is supported by a study conducted by IIT Mumbai

Though the American Cancer Society, current studies to prove the link between cancers and cell phone usage are inconclusive.

COAI also said that the storyline is “defamatory to COAI and its members, endangers public order, presents anti-scientific attitudes, (and) constitutes offences, including under various sections of the IPC.”

It further said that the disputed depiction is in violation of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

“It is against the public interest as it constitutes offences under section 268 (public nuisance), section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and section 499 (defamation) of the IPC and stands to prejudice the ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court over whether or not mobile towers have any harmful effects.”

“We have requested the censor board to revoke the certification already granted, including for the teaser, trailer and other promotional video and Tamil language version of the film with immediate effect,” Rajan Mathews, Director-General of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said. “We have requested that the exhibition of the movie be suspended in the meantime.”

“It will create unfounded fear and mass paranoia by spreading misinformation about the adverse impact of mobile towers and mobile phones,” COAI said

COAI also requested the censor board to re-examine the film and seeking a preview of the film to give it “a fair opportunity to raise our concerns fully and adequately.”

Directed by filmmaker S Shankar, 2.0, d is slated for a release on Nov 29.