NEW DELHI: With protests against the film continuing unabated and several state Governments banning it, the release of the Deepika Padukone Ranveer Singh starrer ‘Padmavati ‘has become mired into uncertainty with trade experts ruling out an early resolution of the controversy surrounding the movie.
Trade experts feel that the hope expressed by ‘Padmavati ‘ producers of being able to obtain the necessary clearance for the film from the Censor Board may be far fetched with many politicians and the Governments of various states having expressed their reservations over the film.
Adding to the woes of the filmmakers, a Parliamentary committee on petitions and another Parliamentary committee on IT earlier this week summoned the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi on a complaint by two BJP MPs over the film’s objectionable content.
The protests by the Rajput community against the film has already led Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to ban the film in these states.
Members of the film industry and trade experts question the action by the State Governments to ban the film and that of the Parliamentary committee to summon Bhansali even before the censor board has seen the film.
Bollywood filmmaker and former chief of the Censor Board Pahlaj Nihalani has wondered why the Parliamentary Committee questioned Bhansali even before the censor board has seen the film or given its clearance to it.
Nihalani said that while the Parliamentary committee has complete authority to ask questions to Bhansali and any producer, but only after the censor board has seen the film and issued the certificate.
”Questioning the authority before the censor certificate is to challenge the jurisdiction of the board as the board is the final unit to decide the fate of any movie,” Nihalani said.
He raised questions on the role of the Censor board in the matter. ”The board seems to have lost its dominance. Now it has become a free for all. It is astonishing that the film ‘Padmavati’ has been banned in many states.
When will this stop. After all, how many committees will Bhansali answer ? ,”he said.
Nihalani also questioned why the board is not taking any step to resolve the issue in a decisive manner. The film industry feels passing a judgment on the film before its clearance by the CBFC is not fair.
Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao has said people should not have preconceived notions about any film before seeing it.
Speaking recently at an event in the capital, Rao said, ”We should not have preconceived notions about any film before seeing it. We have a Government certified body ? the CBFC ? which is responsible for passing the film.
Once you see a film ? I don’t mean only Padmavati ? you often find there’s no distortion of facts (or history) as is alleged.’ Trade expert Komal Nahata feels that decision of state governments to ban the film and the parliamentary committee summoning Bhansali even before the film’s certification by the board is not right, especially after the Supreme court came down heavily on ministers and states who and which had spoken against the controversial film, and asked them to refrain from making comments which could prejudice the sole certifying authority ? the Central Board of Film Certification.
The Governments of various states seem to be least concerned about the orders of the apex court of the country, the Supreme Court. Even after the top court of the country came down heavily on ministers and states who and which had spoken against the controversial film, and asked them to refrain from making comments which could prejudice the sole certifying authority ? the Central Board of Film Certification ? ministers and State Governments have not mended their ways.
Why, the Bihar Government, in fact, put a ban on the controversial film of Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the verdict of the Supreme Court ,” Nahata said. With the protests against Padmavati ‘ refusing to die down, trade experts rule out an early release of the film.
The producers had deferred the release of the film following the protests against it. They had expressed the hope of being able to obtain the necessary clearance for the film from the Censor Board soon. However, with the parliamentary committee looking into the controversy around the film yet to reach a conclusion, the CBFC clearances are unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Padmavati is based on a 1540 poem by the Sufi writer Malik Muhammad Jaysi. Directed by Sanjay Leela bhansali, ‘Padmavati’ depicts the life of Padmini, a Hindu queen who immolated herself rather than fall prisoner to Muslim ruler Allauddin Khilji.
The film, which features Deepika Padukone in the title role and Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in key roles, has been evoking widespread protests in India after rumours that the film depicted Rani Padmavati in an intimate love scene with the Muslim king. (AGENCIES)
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