In what could be termed as a strict warning to all filmmakers that they shall face a jail term of up to five years for depicting smoking images in film posters, the joint director of health and family welfare department has issued a notice to the makers of Telugu film iSmart Shankar, asking them to explain their film poster with smoking images advertised at Inox cinemas at Mantri Mall on July 24.

There are several laws in force to discourage the use of tobacco amongst citizens with adequate publicity and awareness about the ill effects of tobacco and tobacco related products in the country. Of the many, any kind of promotion, advertisement of such products including through the medium of feature films is strictly governed under 'The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of. Advertisement and Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003', which in short is known as COTPA Act.

In the latest case, the film poster of Telugu film iSmart Shankar directed by Puri Jagannath has been accused of violating the COTPA Act.

The Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a notice to the makers of iSmart Shankar seeking explanation for the alleged violation of COTPA Act by advertising the film posters of the film with smoking images at Inox cinemas, Mantri Mall as on date July 24. The communication states that the film posters with smoking images attracts punishment as per Sec 5 of the COTPA Act, and has sought explanation for the same.