Ravroop Kaur
Padmavati is the most anticipated movie of 2017 by Sanjay Leela Bansali with Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranvir Singh as its star cast. Like the name suggests, the movie is a historical genre which entails to Chittor siege of 1303 CE and Rani Padmavati. From the shooting to its trailer being released and to its song ghoomar, the movie has courted controversies which has led to a more unexpected violent outcome.
The movie is based on a poem Padmavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi ( 1540 CE) which tells about AlauddinKhilji’s seige of Chittor then ruled by RawalRatan Singh and Rani Padmavati. Khilji was the Sultan of Delhi who heard of Padmavati’s beauty and demanded to see her in person. According to the tradition then and by the person concerned, it wasn’t acceptable. So he saw her reflection through a mirror! He got struck by Padmavati’s beauty and wanted her.Apart from this poem there is no direct reference to Padmavati: a beauty being the only source of war. There are about four to five versions regarding this siege based on Persian and Urdu adaptations (language which were very popular at the time), Rajput ballads composed in 1589 CE by Hemratan, James Todd version in Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan which lay emphasis on oral tradition of collecting information and Bengali version and so after 19th century Padmavati’s name and story was used by scholars.There has been a lot of debate going over Padmavati’s character being tarnished as a Rajput Queen. What’s unfathomable, that how her character is being marked when there is not a single reference to her taking any immoral actions in the mentioned stories? Or is it because Fourteenth century females are not to be talked about in the Twenty-First? Even when it talks about their Rajput aan, baan and shaan!
Initially the movie was questioned for distorting history but historians disagree to her being the only reason for war or to any conclusive evidence instating it as a fact.References to her can be found in Khaza’inul-Futuh by Amir Khusrau who precariously mentions her metaphorically as Bilkis the Queen of Sheba ; intelligent and powerful.
As written stories and tales of legends of Padmavati surfaced, so did the paintings. She is depicted in rather plunging necklines in comparisons to what DeepikaPadukone is wearing. Therefore, she seems to me more draped than ever in clothes and jewelry, only portraying Padmavati. Why isn’t their any ban on those painting? Why haven’t they been burnt?Is it because Bollywood the largest film producing industry is most popular? So to be highlighted with it will bring more attention to KarniSena for employing a mass communist ideology of an attempt on cultural sensitivity! We are a secular nation, why is it so that any story that has to be told needs to be juxtaposed with communism?When Sanjay Leela Bansali was asked, about the dream sequence in movie, he released a video stating that the movie does not have any such episode.
For the Ghoomar song, the lead actress Deepika Padukone was called a nachnewaali, a dancer but not in a decent say of words by the leader of Karni Sena. As much as we explore Rajput Culture, we come across delicious food, clothes and folk songs and dances.So much so that they have traditional songs with dances particularly for each kind of celebration. For Example: Ghoomar is the most popular Rajasthani dance which has gained international recognition. Welcomed by Rajput womenfolk it is performed on various occasions in festivals like Holi, Teej to nuptial festivities where the newlywed bride has to perform for her household and is joined by rest of the women folk both young and old in the happy hours of night. In the movie, Ghoomar is performed in the Ranivas, only seen by the King. So then, why is the actress being harassed mentally in the name of religion by drawing a comparison of Lakshman cutting off Surpanakha’s nose?
The movie hasn’t been released yet, no one has seen it except ArnabGoswami and journalist Rajat Sharma who asserted it to be the “greatest ever tribute to Rajput pride”, then why is the opposing party accusing the movie for distorting history or insulting Rani Padmavati?
We need to have a benefit of doubt!
And if there is still a doubt, there are ways to take proper actions without challenging the country law.Placing bounty openly and encouraging violence sets a very wrong example for the citizens. This way people with big problems would take matters in their own hands and solve their future problems with violence.Now won’t there be chaos in a country which is know for its Gandhian ideologies of non-violent satayagraha?This rising mobocracy will become rampant, where everything that needs law and order will have destruction of property, documents being signed by blood rather than by educated officials.
We should be proud that we have directors like Sanjay Leela Bansali who take keen interest in our country’s history and culture. Else how are we to know about Rani Padmavati’s sacrifice in protecting honor? There are no chapters on Padmavati in our school text books that tell about Jauhar performed by her which is not to be confused with the practice of Sati!
Such movies will only inculcate a sense of responsibility in respecting our Indian history and our ancestors as national heroes who have set strong examples of courage and integrity.
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