Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical drama, ‘Padmavati’, will be previewed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prior to its release to ensure the film doesn’t hurt the sentiments of Rajput groups.
The BJP has come to the decision of previewing the film as many fringe groups have threatened to disrupt its screening for “manipulating historical facts”.
Also, the movie is being released on December 1, which is around the Gujarat elections slated for 9 and 14 December and BJP doesn’t want that any group should feel offended. The BJP intervened sensing chances of a law and order problem during the Gujarat elections.
One fringe group, Jai Rajputana, had vandalised the sets and attacked the crew of the movie in Jaipur earlier this year. The activists also destroyed a rangoli imitation of ‘Padmavati’ and have now threatened to torch multiplexes if the makers didn’t arrange a pre-release screening of the movie for them.
Sensing trouble, the BJP has taken matters into its own hands to review ‘Padmavati’ and ensure that its release doesn’t hurt sentiments of Rajputs.
The film is based on the lives of Rani Padmini, Raja Rawal Ratan Singh and Alauddin Khilji and that’s where the controversy began as many groups believe the film will portray Rani Padmini in bad light vis a vis her relation with Khilji. Numerous Rajput groups have claimed that the two never even met and showing it otherwise will be distortion of history.
Joining the entire scenario, the Congress has said if there is actually “distortion of history” in the movie then it should not be released at all.
“Just postponing the release will not assuage the feelings of a community. We demand that if there has been distortion of history as claimed, the movie should not be released at all,” senior Congress leader and national spokesperson, Shaktisinh Gohil said.