RAJ TO STALL PADMAVAT’S JAN 25 RELEASE
MUMBAI/JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government on Monday banned Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus on the legendary queen Padmavati even as the producers hinted at a January 25 release of the controversial film that has stoked anger in many parts of India.
A source close to Viacom18 Motion Pictures, the co-producer of the film, said an official announcement of the release date was likely this week.
The film starring Deepika Padukone in the title role was scheduled for a December 1 release but ran into violent protests by Rajput groups and other right-wing Hindu groups which accused Bhansali of distorting history and portraying the queen in poor light.
On December 30, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) allowed the film’s release after asking the producers to change the title to ‘Padmavat’. It had also suggested modifications in the disclaimer of the film, making it clear that it did not glorify the practice of ‘sati’, and relevant changes in the song, Ghoomar.
Queen Padmini is considered by Rajputs as a symbol of the community’s tradition of putting honour above everything else.
A section of historians, however, doubt the existence of the queen and say she is a fictional character first portrayed in a 16th-century poem as having committed jauhar, the medieval practice in which female royals walked into funeral fires to embrace death over the dishonour of being taken captive.
In a statement, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje said on Monday, in view of the sentiments of the people in the state the film will not be screened in any cinema hall in Rajasthan.
“Queen Padmini’s sacrifice is linked to the honour and pride of Rajasthan. Queen Padmini isnot just a chapter in history but our pride and self-respect. We will not let her dignity be maligned,” she said. The Rajput community also warned of opposing the BJP in bypolls to three seats and demanded a nationwide ban on the film.
The three seats have significant Rajput presence and the BJP is wary of losing its traditional voters.
Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria also told reporters in Udaipur, that the film would not release in Rajasthan without necessary changes.
While the BJP is trying to assuage Rajputs, the community leaders continue to demand a nationwide ban on the film.
Rajput groups had staged violent protests, allegedly over rumours that Bhansali included a romantic scene between the queen and Allauddin Khilji, the Delhi emperor who attacked Mewar’s capital Chittorgarh.
Addressing a joint press conference in Jaipur, various Rajput outfits warned of violent protests if the film was released and said they would oppose the BJP in the bypolls.
One of the leaders, Giriraj Singh Lotwara, said the committee which was invited to screen the film had unanimously rejected it. “Then why do they want to show the film? It indicated that there is some underhand deal between the Central Board of Film Certification and the film-makers,” he alleged. he added that the group would oppose the BJp in the bypolls f the film was released.