KOCHI: The first case in the state involving a movie review has been registered. The complaint was made by Ubaini, the director of the film 'Rahel Makan Kora.' He filed a complaint with the Ernakulam Central Police claiming that efforts were being made to harm his film's reputation.

The case has been filed against Facebook and YouTube, with nine people accused. In the meantime, the state's police chief has established a protocol for movie reviews which has been presented in the High Court.

The protocol dictates that no defamatory comments should be made. If money is demanded in exchange for positive reviews, legal action will be taken. The court has raised the question of freedom of expression but emphasized that extortion through threats is unacceptable. The court is also considering the actions the state government can take.

Mubeen Rauf, the director of the film 'Aromalinte Adyathe Pranayam' has submitted a petition to address negative reviews that can harm movies. The petitioner informed the court that certain vloggers attempt to extort money from filmmakers. If payment isn't made, they post negative reviews to sabotage the film.

Anto Joseph pointed out that negative reviews have a significant impact particularly on film producers. Criticisms not only affect the chances of actors and actresses getting future roles but also financially strain the film's producer.

These negative reviews are not only affecting theaters but also the OTT (Over-the-Top) and satellite markets. OTT and satellite channels make decisions about purchasing movies based on their performance in theaters. A film that receives negative reviews may struggle to find buyers in these markets.