In a bizarre turn of events, a college student has filed a lawsuit demanding ₹1.1 crore in damages after his phone number appeared on-screen in a movie starring actress Sai Pallavi. The student, who hails from Chennai, claims that his personal phone number was displayed without his consent in a prominent scene of the movie, causing him significant distress and inconvenience.
The Incident
The incident occurred during a particular sequence in the movie where a character’s phone number was shown on a document, and to the student’s shock, the number displayed was his own. The scene in question was part of a romantic drama featuring Sai Pallavi, known for her roles in hit films like Fidaa and Premam. The phone number, which the student had used for personal and professional purposes, was prominently visible in the film, leading to a surge of unwanted calls and messages from fans of the movie and curious onlookers.
The college student, whose identity has been kept anonymous to protect his privacy, claims that he was harassed with constant phone calls, texts, and inquiries about his connection to the film. He alleges that his life became chaotic due to the sudden and unsolicited attention, which caused mental distress, interruption to his studies, and significant privacy concerns.
Legal Action and Compensation
The student has now filed a legal complaint seeking compensation of ₹1.1 crore for the distress caused by this “inadvertent” inclusion of his phone number in the film. The lawsuit, which was filed in a Chennai court, argues that the filmmakers should have taken appropriate measures to ensure that no personal information, including phone numbers, was exposed to the public without consent. The case has sparked considerable public debate, with some questioning the responsibility of filmmakers in safeguarding the privacy of individuals, even when their identities are not directly involved in the narrative.
The student’s legal team is pushing for a financial settlement, claiming that the incident has caused undue harassment, loss of peace, and a violation of his right to privacy. The lawsuit also mentions the emotional and psychological toll of being inundated with calls and messages from strangers, leading to a disruption in his daily life.
Filmmakers Respond
In response to the lawsuit, the filmmakers have expressed regret over the unintended mishap but have stated that it was a technical error. They have clarified that the number shown in the film was not meant to correspond to any real individual and was supposed to be a fictional number. According to the film’s production house, the phone number used in the scene was randomly generated as part of the set design, and the coincidence of it matching an actual phone number was purely incidental.
The filmmakers have also stated that they are investigating how the error occurred and are in discussions with their legal team regarding the lawsuit. They have expressed their commitment to resolving the issue amicably and are reportedly offering to cover the student’s legal fees as a sign of goodwill.
Public Reaction
The incident has generated mixed reactions from the public. Some people have expressed sympathy for the student, emphasizing the importance of respecting individuals’ privacy and the potential consequences of such oversights in films. On the other hand, others have questioned the severity of the lawsuit, suggesting that the incident was an honest mistake and that the student may be overreacting.
Many have also taken to social media to debate the broader issue of privacy in the digital age, where even minor details, such as a phone number, can be exposed to millions of people in the blink of an eye. Some critics argue that filmmakers need to be more diligent in their checks and balances to avoid such mistakes in the future, while others point out that the focus on a phone number may detract from the broader message of the film.
Conclusion
This lawsuit brings to light important questions about privacy rights, the responsibility of filmmakers, and the potential consequences of seemingly harmless details in entertainment media. As the case progresses, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for the film industry about the importance of safeguarding personal information, even in fictionalized portrayals. For now, the college student’s quest for justice continues as he seeks compensation for the inconvenience and distress caused by the unintentional inclusion of his phone number in Sai Pallavi’s film.