The director, producer and actors of Tamil film "˜Maan Karate"™ have been asked to appear before a city court on Friday.

The XV Metropolitan Magistrate Court, George Town, recently summoned director Thirukumaran, actors Sivakarthikeyan and Vamsi Krishna, and producer A.R. Murugadoss to the court for portraying boxers in a bad light in the film, released in April.

The directions were given based on a petition from J. Krishnamoorthy, secretary and coach, JKM Boxing Club.

The complainant, a pointsman in Southern Railway, said he had won several medals in various boxing contests in the country and trained several boxers in the State.

In his petition, he said the film had several scenes that defamed the boxing community.

Mr. Krishnamoorthy pointed out that boxers followed several norms laid down by the sport.

Boxers maintained discipline and followed professional ethics.

S. Jayaseelan, the petitioner"™s counsel, said Mr. Krishnamoorthy and other members of the boxing association had also given a complaint to the commissioner of police.

The petitioner has appealed to the court to prosecute and punish the artists for offences under various sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Penal Code.