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Rajasthan: Screen Padmavat at your own risk, threatens Karni Sena
Two distributors have refused to distribute the film in Rajasthan
Members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena on Monday issued open threats to cinema hall owners against screening Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial film Padmavat, which hurts the sentiments of Rajput community as it allegedly distorts history regarding the Chittor queen Padmini.
The film is slated for release on January 25.
“We have given in writing to cinema hall owners telling them not to screen the film. If any cinema hall still decides to screen the film, and any sort of vandalism takes place, only the hall owner will be responsible for it,” said Narayan Singh Diwrala, district president of Karni Sena.
Asked if it was a request or threat, members of the Karni Sena shouted ‘dhamki’ (threat) in unison.
“ … serious efforts have been made (in Padmaavat) to distort Rajasthan’s glorious past, civilization and culture; and to destroy the country’s religion, history and culture by tarring the honour of women,” the letter read, urging the film hall owners not to screen the film and ‘discharge their duties towards their motherland’ by doing so.
Karni Sena members also gheraoed INOX cinema hall in Crystal Palm mall in Jaipur and gave a letter to the officials. “We have received their representation and will forward it to our corporate office,” said Amitabh Jain, cluster head, INOX Rajasthan.
Meanwhile, two film distributors have refused to distribute the film to cinema hall owners in Rajasthan.Yash Raj Jai Pictures Pvt Limited director Raj Bansal on Monday stated in a press release that the firm has not acquired the distribution rights of film Padmaavat for Rajasthan and has also decided not to distribute the film in the state.
Similarly, another distributor, Marudhar Cine Entertainment, has also refused to distribute the film in Rajasthan.
Besides, members of Rajput outfits caused disruptions in various districts of the state including Rajsamand, Jalore and Pratapgarh.
In Bhilwara, a man climbed a mobile phone tower with a bottle of petrol in protest against the release of the film.
A protester, 20-year-old Rajendra Singh, climbed a mobile phone network tower in Bhilwara district demanding a ban on Padmaavat, SP Bhilwara Pradeep Mohan Sharma said. The youth was convinced and brought down, he said.
RSS joins anti-Padmaavat chorus
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP, on Monday too joined other right wing groups demanding that the film should not be allowed to be screened.
“We have objections to the film. Wrong portrayal of things must not be done,” said Manoj Kumar, the spokesperson for Rajasthan RSS. “Whenever a historical figure is portrayed in a film or play, the depiction must raise the stature and prestige of the figure.”
A press note from Ramesh Agarwal, Jaipur prant sanghchalak, said that freedom of imagination to make a historical event interesting for literary creation is natural but the flight of imagination must be in harmony with the character’s dignity and history, as well as the public sentiments.
“Distorting history in the name of freedom of expression is wrong … The society, too, is free to oppose the distortion through democratic means by movements and creating public awareness,” the note added.
