Amid the raging row over the ban on Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam for its alleged anti-Muslim content, Madras High Court today directed Central Government to consider a plea for withdrawal of 'U' certificate to an already running Tamil film that was also deemed offensive to the community.

"It is for the Central government to consider the merits or otherwise of the contentions raised by the petitioner," a bench comprising Justices R Banumathi and K K Sasidharan, which had watched the actor Vijay starrer Thuppakki, said.

The bench was disposing of a petition filed by Abdul Rahim, General Secretary of a Muslim outfit seeking withdrawal of the U certificate to the movie from which several scenes deemed offensive to Muslims were deleted after its release during Deepavali in November last.

Acknowledging that the producer had every right to set the story or theme of a film, the bench said, "However, it cannot be said that he had got unfettered freedom to exhibit any kind of film notwithstanding its adverse effect on the society."

"In case it is made out that the exhibition of the film would result in inciting violence, the same would be a reasonable ground to deny certificate of unrestricted public exhibition," the bench said.

The cuts in the film were effected after Tamil Nadu Home Secretary convened a meeting of both sides following protests by some Muslim outfits who contended that their community was portrayed in poor light in the context of terror.

The order on Thuppakki came even as another bench is hearing a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu Government's ban on screening 'Vishwaroopam' in the wake of protests by Muslim outfits.

The bench directed the Centre to consider and dispose of the petitioner's November 22, 2012 representation, treating it as a revision petition under Section 6 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

The section gives the Centre revisional jurisdiction on any film pending before or already decided by the censor board or tribunal.

Giving the liberty to the petitioner to submit additional materials, the court directed the Centre to pass appropriate orders on or before March 31.

Rahim, in his petition, contended that the film did not depict Muslims in good light and would promote ill-feeling among different communities. It would result in forming an adverse opinion against Muslims as a whole.

He said the Film Censor Board, Chennai, granted 'U' certificate to the film without appreciating the intention and motive in producing such a film.