MUMBAI: The film industry has reacted to the Information & Broadcasting Ministry?s directive to move the screening of the controversial film Dirty Picture to a late night slot on television.

Sony, the Hindi general entertainment channel that was to telecast the movie in the afternoon and primetime night slot, has deferred the screening due to the I&B?s directive as it feels that the late slot would cut down on its advertising revenue potential.

Protesting against the I&B?s decision, noted filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt said: "I feel that that this would lead to a lot of chaos because this brings to the fore a lot of uncertainty. People in the industry need to know whether the Censor Board or the I&B Ministry decides which film is healthy or not for the audience. I think this should be made clear or then all future films for TV viewing will fall in such kind of jeopardy."

It so happened that a circular was sent by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to Sony, which was to show the film, saying that the U/A-certified movie could not be beamed before 11 pm.

Commented Balaji Motion Pictures distribution and acquisition head Girish Johar, "We are shocked at the Government?s undoing. How can they do this to a film that has been awarded with three National awards. It is definitely a bad precedent."

The I&B Ministry?s action came after the Allahabad bench of the Lucknow High Court, hearing on a PIL, directed the Centre to ensure that no law is violated by the telecast of Dirty Picture by Sony TV channel on 22 April.