MUMBAI: A Tamil and a Kannada film based on the slain forest brigand Veerappan has been restrained from screening by the City Civil Court in Chennai.

This follows an application by Tamil bi-weekly Nakheeran editor Gopal about his role in both the Tamil and the Kannada versions of the film titled Vana Yuddham and Attagasam respectively. The XVII Assistant Judge of the City Civil Court granted the interim injunction till 17 April.

The editor submitted that he had come across a news item that the films on the life of Veerappan, who was shot dead by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force in October 2004, had been made by AMR Ramesh of Bangalore and two other producers. Contending that the films were scheduled for release in the first week of May, Gopal claimed that he had made five trips to the forest, where the sandalwood smuggler was in hiding, and due to his efforts the life of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar, who was kidnapped, was saved.

He further contended that without his role, no film about the brigand‘s kidnappings, surrender talks and his way of life in the forest could be made.

Stating that the producers had not contacted him for his version on the role he played as an emissary, Gopal alleged that according to reliable information, his image had been tarnished in the films that made him apprehensive that his character would be spoilt.

The Judge said the petitioner had made out a prima facie case for grant of the injunction.