Rizvi releases another poster of his movie

LUCKNOW: Chairman of UP Shia Central Waqf Board Waseem Rizvi released a second poster of the controversial movie Ram Janma Bhumi on Thursday, coinciding it with the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

This despite the Mumbai High Court barring release of any poster or teaser of the controversial movie till it is cleared by the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The court has also directed Rizvi, the film’s producer, to remove the trailer of the movie from Youtube released by him at a press conference in Lucknow on November 19. The order was passed by the Mumbai High Court on a petition filed by a social worker Azhar Tamboli alleging that the trailer was highly provocative, promoted communal disharmony and was violative of Section 5B (principles for guidance in certifying films) of the Cinematograph Act.

“I have not received any notice from the court so far,” said Rizvi adding, “The film is being edited and we plan to submit the full and final print to the CBFC by December 15.” He said the movie was now likely to be released in the first week of January, next year.

He said he had received several death threats including one from Abdul Memon, brother of main accused in Mumbai blasts Tiger Memon and had filed a police complaint.

“The state government, however, has not provided me adequate security because of the pressure from certain “mullahs’ ( clerics),” he said.

Several Muslim organisations and clerics have stepped up the demand for banning the movie. Organisations like the Raza Academy and the All India Imam Association have also petitioned the CBFC against allowing the release of the film. Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad is leading the charge against Rizvi in his hometown Lucknow.