South Indian film star Dhanush has received relief as the Supreme Court rejected an intervention against the order of the Madras High Court, dismissing allegations of promoting smoking in his Tamil film "Vellai Illa Pattathari" (VIP). This decision comes amid increasing scrutiny on Bollywood and now South Indian film stars for endorsing tobacco products.

The controversy dates back to 2014 when a petition was filed against the posters of VIP, which depicted Dhanush smoking a cigarette. Last year, prominent Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, and Shahrukh Khan faced similar allegations. However, in Dhanush's case, the Madras High Court had already dismissed any criminal proceedings in an earlier hearing.

The Supreme Court's recent decision reaffirms the Madras High Court's stance that legal proceedings against Dhanush regarding the smoking portrayal in VIP were unwarranted. The court emphasized the need for a strict interpretation of the law, asserting that decisions must be based on whether the facts constitute a crime or not.

During the hearing, Dhanush's counsel argued that the actor's portrayal of smoking in the film did not fall under Section 5(1) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, after considering and understanding the artistic expression and context of the scenes. The counsel highlighted that the actor's opinion was based on a comprehensive understanding of the Act and its provisions.

On the other side, the complainant argued that the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products in films was an offense under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. However, the Madras High Court stressed that legal decisions should not be swayed by emotions and popular sentiments. Instead, the court insisted on a rigorous examination of whether the facts indeed constituted a crime as defined by the law.