A school in Tamil Nadu has filed a case in the Madras High Court against the screening of the popular Tamil film "Kadal", alleging that it showed the institution in poor light.

The 72-year-old St Joseph Girls' Higher Secondary School in Madurai is claiming Rs.2 million ($45,000) as damages.

Judge R. Balasubramanian issued a notice to film producer Shankar and director Balaji Shaktivel seeking their reply within a week.

The school contended that some scenes in the film released Dec 17 created the impression that its students were free with the opposite sex and that the school administration was lethargic.

It said: "Anyone who watches the movie will get an impression that the school provides an atmosphere of indiscipline.

"To add insult to injury, the publicity of the movie says the film is based on a true story."