Row over “Padmavati”,was just based on rumors: Bhansali
NEW DELHI : In the midst of a raging controversy over his film “Padmavati”, its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Thursday appeared before a Parliamentary committee here and maintained that the row over his yet-to-be released movie was just based on rumours, strongly rejecting criticism that he had distorted historical facts about the 16th century Rajput queen.
Bhansali was grilled for over two hours by members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT as he appeared before it in Parliament House with Prasoon Joshi, who heads the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Bhansali faced a barrage of questions from the parliamentary panel which asked him if the “selective” media screening of his film was aimed at influencing the CBFC, PTI quoted sources as saying.
PTI said the members of the panel asked him, “How could you assume that the movie could be released on December 1 when you applied to the CBFC on November 11. As per the cinematography act, the CBFC may take 68 days before certifying a movie?”
“All the controversy over the film is based on rumours. I have not distorted facts. The film is based on a poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi,” Bhansali said, referring to the 16th century Indian sufi poet’s epic poem “Padmavat”.
“We don’t intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments,” Bhansali told the 30-member panel headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur. Among those who attended the meeting included Congress’ Raj Babbar and BJP patriarch L.K. Advani. The director has been given time till December 14 to reply to the panel.
The film stoked controversy over assumptions that it has a dream sequence depicting romance between Rajput warrior queen Padmini and Delhi sultan Alauddin Khilji. Joshi told the panel that the censor board was yet to take a decision about the movie as it would be shown to regional and central screening committees.
The Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation of the Rajput community, has urged a nationwide ban on Bhansali’s “Padmavati”. Activists of the Sena and some other groups have been protesting against the movie, claiming it “distorts” historical facts.
As six states, including Rajasthan, have already announced that they will not release the film, the Supreme Court on Tuesday took exception to people holding official positions making “prejudicial comments” about the movie, saying these breached the principle of rule of law.
The apex court asked when the matter was pending for consideration before CBFC, how could persons in public authority comment on whether the censor board should issue certificate or not. (With PTI inputs)
