We strongly condemn and demand for banning the film MSG-2, where the Adivasis have been portrayed as Devils. This also clearly exposes the mindset of Non-Adivasi Indians who are full of prejudices and racist against the Adivasis.

Stop humiliation, degradation and injustice against the Adivasis. The Indian Government must take legal action against Ram Rahim, Producer and Director of the film under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989.

Respected Sir,

This Complaint is to bring to your kind notice the blatant and obnoxiously offensive portrayal of the Adivasi Community in the Film trailer of ‘MSG -2 – the messenger of God’ due to be released all over India on 18.09.2015. The film’s trailer, in line with the theme of the movie itself, is propagating adivasis culture as uncivilized, wild and evil of society and need to be turned into ‘insaan’. The trailer is a deeply offends the cultural identity of the tribal community of the country across its diverse and sporadic existence. The film is against the integrity of India, public order and morality as being contemptuous of Adivasis as a whole.

The official trailer of the film has been uploaded on 27.09.2015 by the account ‘Saint MSG’ on the video-sharing website YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OxIWWcPgxc . The promotional trailer already has 4,783,321 views and more is simultaneously shown on television on various channels as a promo/advertisement. In the trailer, the protagonist (Sant Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim ji Insaan) is shown as a messiah who has undertaken the task of ‘civilizing’ the adivasis. He is shown to have a team to assist him in this mission, and together they have used violence against the adivasis as a method to achieve such ends.
The film claims to be based on true events, and refers to adivasis as having been declared terrorists by the government; further it says that adivasis are neither humans nor animals but ‘shaitaans’ (devils). The trailer also states that the entire society has several such ‘shaitaans’, and that they have to be converted into ‘insaans’ (humans).

It is submitted that there is a large population of forest dwellers/tribals/janjati which collectively is colloquially referred to as ‘Aadivasis’. The only theme of the film is how to ‘civilize’ this population, which the film portrays does not know how to live like humans. The movie is highly offensive, and desensitizes the non-tribals against aadivasis; further it dehumanizes aadivasis, claiming they don’t deserve to be treated as humans, unless they are ‘civilized’.

It is submitted that the grant of the certificate patently violates section 5B(1) and 5(B)(2)of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 as well as Clauses (iv), (v), (vii), (viii), (xiii), (xviii) of Clause 2 of the Guidelines for certification of both the trailer. It is also submitted that the impugned trailer/promo attracts penal provisions under section 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code, 1882 as also section 3(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989.

It is humbly submitted that the trailer and the film are, inter alia, violative of Schedule V to the Constitution which stands for protecting decision-making power of the minorities. It cannot be argued that the film is protected by the right of free speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1). It is submitted that the film is in breach of law – law which is presumed to be constitutional unless declared otherwise.

It is requested that appropriate action be taken under the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989 as the offence under section 3(x) has been clearly committed by making such a film. Action should also be taken by getting lodged FIR under section 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code, 1880. The Hon’ble Commission should hold an enquiry to find out from the Censor Board as to how it granted certification to the film, when the film is patently offensive, contemptuous, humiliating and degrading to Aadivasis of the country.