The Kerala High Court on Friday (5 May) observed that many Hindi and Malayalam movies depict Hindu sanyasis as smugglers and rapists but no one protests against it.

The observation by division bench of Justices N Nagaresh and Sophy Thomas came while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the release of the movie 'The Kerala Story'.

"There are umpteen number of movies where Hindu sanyasis are depicted as smugglers or rapists. Nothing happens, no one protests. Many such Hindi and Malayalam films are there," the court observed, reports Bar and Bench.

When pointed out by one of the petitioner's counsel that he was objecting on the filmmaker claiming that it was a true story, the court observed, "Then ISIS should come and object. If these statements are offending someone, it is offending ISIS".

The Court also noted that that the Constitution gives freedom of faith.

"You can say my God is the only God. But if you say this to a person belonging to another religion, is it not offensive? But still constitution protects it," the court observed.

The Court in its order noted that the producer of "The Kerala Story" have told the HC that the teaser of the movie, which claimed that over 32,000 women from Kerala were recruited to ISIS, will be removed from their social media accounts.

"Going through the trailers of the movie, we find it does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. None of the petitioners have watched movie," the court said in its order.

Further, the Court noted that the CBFC has examined the movie and found it suitable for public exhibition.

It also noted that the producers of the movie have published a disclaimer that the film is fictionalised and dramatised.

"We are not inclined to pass an interim order restraining exhibition of film," the court said, reports Bar and Bench.

The development comes amid reports that shows of Adah Sharma-starrer The Kerala Story have been cancelled in several districts across Kerala on its release day amid backlash.

In Kochi, two shows that were listed earlier have been cancelled. Theatre owners at Lulu Mall and Centre Square Mall in Kochi have decided to boycott the movie. Similarly, theatres in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Kannur and Wayanad districts have also decided not to screen the movie.