Sanjay Leela Bhansali and controversy go hand in hand, as his previous productions like Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Bhajirao Mastani had faced problems before releasing. Now Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Padmavati is becoming another flash point in poll bound Gujarat state. The Rajput community, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Karni Sena held a joint protest to press their point and fought against the release of the films. The protesters have alleged that Bhansali has distorted historical facts in the film and thereby making mockery of the Hindu resistance against Islamic rulers. A strong one lakh members mob of the community concerned and sought a ban on the release of the film. It is notable that in a dream sequence in the movie wherein Rani Padmavati has been shown romancing with Alauddin Khilji and that was in poor taste and not approved by the Rajput community and hence the protest. The agitators join hands and condemn such a heinous portrayal of queen will never be allowed in such a historical movie and needs to be cut off before the film hit theatres. Massive Padmavati protest continues in the poll bound Gujarat state and may spread to other states as well in the days to come.
Nickhil Mani
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
