Succumbing to sentiments of the aggrieved Rajput community, the Gujarat government has decided not to allow the release of controversial film Padmaavat, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film which had to drop the “I” from the legendary Rajasthan queen’s name as per the advice of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani told journalists that the film would not be released in the state, where it was disallowed earlier too in view of the Assembly elections.
The film’s screenings have already been banned in the neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The controversy around Padmaavat has arisen due to alleged ‘improper’ portrayal of the legendary Rajput queen, but even otherwise Gujarat has a history of banning films over trivial issues like hurting sentiments of some sections of people.
Parzania, a film based on a child missing since the 2002 riots following the Godhra train inferno, was not allowed to be screened in Gujarat due to violent protest by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists who had ransacked theatre halls.
Actor Aamir Khan’s film Fanaa too was not screened simply because he had espoused the cause of villagers displaced from the catchment area of the Narmada dam project which was supposed to supply irrigation water to Gujarat.
The film has been granted clearance from the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) after shortening of the title and some modifications in the script.