‘Padmawati’ faces fierce protest Release in Sri Lanka stopped
Following the fierce protest in India and elsewhere, the controversy ridden Bollywood history-related movie ‘Padmawati’ was postponed in Sri Lanka too. The film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is famous for his blockbuster films such as Devdas, Black, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Guzaarish was to be released here from December 1 coinciding the worldwide release but has been postponed to next year.
Imported by Aiswarya Films, the main roles of the film are played by Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.
The film narrating about a14th century Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler, was stopped in India following protest by certain section of Hindu groups. With attacks on theatres, the protest took a violence turn with protesters placing a multi-million rupee bounty on film’s main actress Deepika Padukone and director Bansali’s heads. A regional BJP politician declared that he would offer a reward of upto US$ 1.5million for anyone beheading the actress and the director.
Foreign media reported that the protest extended to several states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, which are ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
The protests were not sudden. While the film was on preproduction stage a group had disrupted shooting and even director Bhansali had been slapped on the set.
The film tells the story of a 14th Century Hindu queen (played by Deepika Padukone) belonging to the high Rajput caste and the Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh).
A group representing a Rajput caste claimed that the film has distorted history and complained that it went on to depict an intimate romantic scene between the Hindu queen and the Muslim King.
However on last Tuesday, November 28, India’s Supreme Court rejected a bid to block the Bollywood movie by rejecting an appeal by a lawyer to block the global release of the film, foreign media reported. The Court dismissed a petition by the lawyer, ML Sharma, to delay its release abroad.
The court has observed that those in public office should not criticise the film, as this too would erode the job of the censor board.
