Amaran: Chennai student sues makers for Rs 1.1 crore for receiving countless calls from Sai Pallavi's fans after his phone number appeared in the movie

In an unexpected legal turn, a Chennai-based engineering student, Vaageesan, has filed a lawsuit against the makers of the Tamil film Amaran after his personal phone number appeared in the movie, resulting in relentless disturbances. The student is seeking a compensation of Rs 1.1 crore for the mental agony and distress caused by the incident, which reportedly began soon after the film's release on October 31.

The crux of the issue lies in a specific scene in Amaran where the character Indhu Rebecca Varghese, played by Sai Pallavi, throws a crumpled piece of paper with a phone number on it at Major Mukund, portrayed by Sivakarthikeyan. Vaageesan claims that the number on the paper is, in fact, his personal mobile number. This number is tied to all his critical personal documents, including his Aadhaar card and bank account statements.

What began as an innocent moment in a film soon became a nightmare for Vaageesan. After Amaran was released, he began receiving an overwhelming number of phone calls from people asking to speak to Sai Pallavi. The calls, originating from unknown numbers, continued incessantly, especially during the Diwali celebrations when Vaageesan was spending time with his family. Initially, Vaageesan did not understand the cause of the deluge of calls but soon connected the dots upon learning that his number had inadvertently been displayed in the movie.

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In his lawsuit, Vaageesan demanded compensation for what he described as "untold hardships and mental agony." His complaint paints a grim picture of his daily life since the film's release. Vaageesan stated that he had been unable to sleep, study, or even engage in basic activities without constant interruptions. The nuisance of non-stop phone calls disrupted his routine, making it difficult for him to focus on his academic work and personal life.

In addition to seeking financial compensation, Vaageesan has demanded the immediate removal of his phone number from the film. He has also taken to social media to highlight his plight, tagging director Karthik Subbaraj and actor Sivakarthikeyan in his posts. However, as of now, he claims to have received no response from either party.

The situation has drawn significant attention to the broader issue of privacy in media productions. Vaageesan’s case highlights the potential risks that can arise when filmmakers use real phone numbers in a fictional setting, without proper consent. The number used in Amaran was not an anonymous one, and its inclusion without the owner’s permission led to this distressing situation.

The legal battle has also brought attention to the ethical responsibilities of filmmakers in the digital age, where information can spread rapidly, and personal details can easily be exposed to the public. As Vaageesan seeks justice, the case could set a precedent for similar issues in the future, forcing filmmakers to exercise greater caution when incorporating real-world details into their scripts.

Amaran, directed by Karthik Subbaraj and produced by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International, is an adaptation of the book series India's Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. It tells the story of Major Mukund, a soldier who died in a counterterrorism operation. However, for Vaageesan, the film’s portrayal has become more of a personal nightmare than a source of entertainment.