Padmaavat is set for release on January 25. Clearing the way for the nationwide release of Bollywood period drama Padmaavat, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed notifications issued by four states prohibiting its screening. The Court also asked the States to provide security to the film crew if required. A bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud prima facie accepted the petitioner’s contention that once Central Board of Film Certification had cleared a movie, States cannot interfere with it. “Once the Parliamentary legislation confers the responsibility and power on a statutory board and board grants Certificate, non-exhibition of it by states will be contrary to statutory provisions”, the court said in its interim order. The apex court also reminded that it was the “duty and obligation of States to maintain law and order”. Senior Counsel Harish Salve who appeared for Viacom18, the movie producer, urged the court to order security for the film crew saying they were being threatened. The court agreed to this and said keeping in view of the situation, the State must provide them security if they ask for it. Appearing for the states, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought for more time to reply to the petition saying more facts needed to be brought on record. “Suppose there is a rumour against a community which is in majority in my state, can’t I take action”, Mehta asked and added, “we have intelligence record and we want to place them on record”. The CJI did not accept this and said: “If you go by this, 60 percent of literature, even classical literature of India cannot be read.” Mehta repeatedly sought for more time saying there was no urgency in the matter as the film was set for release only on January 25. But Justice Chandrachud countered this saying “it is important, valued Constitutional rights are at stake”. The court will hear the matter next on March 26. Film is also releasing in tamil watch the trailer - The film was also asked to give a few disclaimers -- one of them regarding not glorifying the practice of Sati. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has decided to give a U/A certificate "along with some modifications" to Sanjay Leela Bhansalis controversial film Padmavati and has asked the filmmaker to "likely" change the movie's title to Padmavat.
The film was also asked to give a few disclaimers -- one of them regarding not glorifying the practice of Sati and also relevant modifications in the song Ghoomar to befit the character portrayed, a CBFC statement said. The decision was taken after an examining committee meeting was held on Thursday in presence of CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi. The special panel consisted of Arvind Singh from Udaipur, Dr Chandramani Singh and professor KK Singh of Jaipur University. According to the CBFC, the film was approached with a "balanced view keeping in mind both the filmmakers and the society". The board asked for several cuts, and a name change, before giving the film the certification for showing in theatres in India. According to some reports, 26 cuts were ordered. Considering the complexities and concerns around the film, the requirement for a special panel was felt by CBFC "to add perspective to the final decision of the official committee," the CBFC said. The final 3D application of the film was submitted to CBFC on Thursday (December 28). The certificate will be issued once the required modifications are carried out and final material submitted, the board said. Padmavati, which was earlier slated for release on December 1, got embroiled into controversies after the Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, urged a nationwide ban on the film claiming that it "distorts historical facts". Members of the political organisation also physically assaulted Bhansali during the film's shooting in Jaipur earlier this year. They even burnt the sets of the movie on the outskirts of Mumbai. Later on, Bhansali appeared before a Parliamentary committee and maintained that the row over the yet-to-be released movie was just based on rumours, strongly rejecting charges that he had distorted "historical" facts about the possibly mythological Rajput queen, played by Deepika Padukone in the film. The row took an ugly turn when threats were issued against Bhansali and Deepika. Padmavati also features Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor. |
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