Kerala filmmaker booked for promoting banned drug in movie trailer

KOZHIKODE: Kerala filmmaker Omar Lulu has been booked by the State Excise Department for allegedly promoting the usage of MDMA, a banned drug, in the trailer of his newly released movie.

The Kozhikode Range of the Excise Department registered the case against Lulu and the producers of the movie "Nalla Samayam" after finding that scenes and dialogues, promoting the usage of the contraband, were included in the promotional trailer.

An Excise official on Friday said besides the substance, the trailer also had scenes blindly promoting alcoholism and the movie makers did not even bother to show the statutory warning on the screen.

"The case was registered on Thursday under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic and Substances Act and Abkari Act. We submitted a report in this regard at the court," he told PTI.

When asked whether the makers of the movie could be contacted, he said a notice would be served to them soon.

In a Facebook post, Lulu said he was happy that the new movie was received well by the youth.

Without directly mentioning the case, he sarcastically said he might face police action and so he would come back after securing bail.

"Nalla Samayam", the fifth movie helmed by him, has a group of freshers in prominent roles.