Aside from MDMA, the trailer also openly promotes alcoholism and the movie makers did not add the statutory warning, said an Excise official.
Published Dec 30, 2022 | 7:17 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 30, 2022 | 7:17 PM
Omar Lulu, Director of Nalla Samayam. (Wikimedia Commons)
Kerala filmmaker Omar Lulu has been booked by the State Excise Department for allegedly promoting the usage of MDMA, a banned drug, in the trailer of his newly released movie.
The Excise Range Office in Kozhikode registered the case against Lulu and the producers of the movie Nalla Samayam after finding that scenes and dialogues promoting the usage of the contraband were included in the promotional trailer.
Kerala has launched several anti-drug campaigns this year on a war footing against narcotics. Vimukthi is an anti-narcotics campaign launched by the Government of Kerala and the Kerala State Excise Department with the aim to highlight the seriousness of the situation and create awareness among the people, especially the youth.
Addiction-free Kerala is the primary aim of this campaign drive.
An Excise official on Friday, 30 December, said that aside from the banned substance, the trailer also shows scenes that openly promote alcoholism and that the movie makers did not bother to show the statutory warning on the screen.
“The case was registered on Thursday under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic and Substances Act, and Abkari Act. We submitted a report in this regard at the court,” he told PTI and added that notices would be served to them soon.
സിനിമയുടെ ടീസറിൽ മയക്കുമരുന്ന് ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന വിധവും, ഉപയോഗിക്കാൻ പ്രോത്സാഹനവും നൽകുന്ന രംഗങ്ങൾ ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തിയതിന് കോഴിക്കോട് എക്സൈസ് റേഞ്ച് കേസ് എടുത്തു. സംവിധായകനും, നിർമ്മാതാവിനുമെതിരെയാണ് കേസ് എടുത്തത്.
സമയം നല്ലതാകാൻ ലഹരിയോട് നോ പറയാം..!#KeralaExcise
— Kerala Excise Department (@KeralaExcise) December 30, 2022
Lulu, in a Facebook post, said he was happy that the new movie trailer was received well by the youth.
Without directly mentioning the case, he sarcastically said that he may face police action and that he would return after securing bail.
Nalla Samayam, Lulu’s fifth movie, has a group of freshers playing prominent roles.
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