Censor board in UK clears Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’

A FUNCTIONARY AT VIACOM 18, HOWEVER, SAID THERE WAS NO PLAN TO RELEASE THE FILM GLOBALLY WITHOUT IT BEING CLEARED BY THE CBFC

NEWDELHI/BHOPAL/LONDON: Sanjay Leela Bhansali flick Padmavati, mired in a huge row at home, was cleared uncut by British censors even as the Supreme Court agreed on Thursday to hear a plea seeking directions that the movie is not released outside India on December 1.

A functionary at Viacom 18, however, said there was no plan to release the film globally without it being cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), meanwhile, passed the film without cuts. “‘Padmavati’ (12A) moderate violence, injury detail,” stated the official website of the British censor board. “All known versions of this work passed uncut,” it said.

The 12A rating means the film cannot be viewed in UK by a child under 12 years unless accompanied by an adult.

In Dewas, district education officer (DEO) Rajiv Suryavanshi directed all government and private schools to stop using the film’s song, titled ‘Ghoomar’, during cultural programmes.

“Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena has submitted a request letter in the honour of Maa Padmavati. It was requested that Hindu sentiments should not be offended by playing ‘Ghoomar’ song in the cultural programmes being organised in schools. So, do not use ‘Ghoomar’ song in the cultural programmes in schools,” read the circular. However, Dewas Collector Asheesh Singh said he has directed the education officer to withdraw the circular .

“Only the state government can issue such circulars. The DEO is not entitled to pass such an order. I have directed the DEO to immediately withdraw this order,” he said.

The DEO was also being served a show cause notice to explain his action within three days, he added.

In the Supreme Court, a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said it would hear on Tuesday, a plea that alleged that the makers of Padmavati misrepresented facts with regard to the censor board’s approval on releasing songs and the promo.

Advocate ML Sharma had sought criminal prosecution of the makers of the movie for allegedly misrepresenting facts.