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Padmaavat is all set to finally take over the theatres on January 25. The movie stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles and has been directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
After the film was passed with a UA certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification, some states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat decided to ban the release of the film. The makers moved to the Supreme Court to take legal action against the people calling for the ban.
Thankfully, the apex court stayed the ban on Padmaavat and in the verdict clearly mentioned that no state can impose a ban on the release of a movie. “Our order must be followed by one and all. States can’t show helplessness in maintaining law and order. States have a duty to abide by SC orders. Don’t watch if you don’t want to but there can’t be a ban on screening,” the court said.
However, Rajput groups led by Shri Rajput Karni Sena said it will continue to protest against the movie. Now, in a new twist to the ongoing controversy over release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie, several two-wheelers were set on fire and cinema halls pelted with stones in Ahmedabad. Ticket counters and vehicles parked outside multiplexes in cities in Gujarat were set ablaze and shops inside the malls were vandalised by people identifying themselves as “Karni Sena”.
#Gujarat: A group of men vandalised the area outside a multiplex in Ahmedabad’s Thaltej and torched vehicles in protest against #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/UmvZfP7NgO
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018
#LatestVisuals from outside Ahmedabad’s Himalaya Mall where shops were vandalised and vehicles parked outside were torched in protest against #Padmaavat yesterday pic.twitter.com/le6cs0hTzU
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
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Meanwhile, leader Hardik Patel and newly elected Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor are the latest to join the chorus demanding a ban on the film.
On 22nd January, Congress’ newest ally Hardik Patel wrote a letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanding a ban on the screening of the film Padmaavat. In his letter, Hardik had said that the government must not allow screening of the film ‘at any cost’ keeping in mind the ‘law and order situation and the community’s sentiments’. He warned that if any issue arises with respect to law and order, it will be entirely government’s responsibility.
Hardik wrote: “We respect the Supreme Court of India but the Kshatriya community (Rajputs) offered their royal states at the feet of Ma Bharati (Mother India) with closed eyes in order to ensure the unity and strength of this country. Therefore, it is the duty of one and all to ensure that the honour of this Rajput community is not lowered (due to a film). If Padmaavat is released in Gujarat, the responsibility of the consequences and law and order will rest upon the government.”
The film should not be released in Gujarat under any circumstances, he added.
Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor also said that “an attempt is being made to tarnish the glorious history of the Kshatriya samaj through the film”. “We are completely against it. The Chief Minister had banned the release of Padmaavat, then why is the state police offering protection to theatres wanting to showcase it. The coordination between the state government and the police administration raises a big question,” the Congress MLA said.
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