'Padmavati' now banned in Madhya Pradesh even before release
A day after the makers of 'Padmavati' pushed back its release, the Madhya Pradesh government has banned the movie in the state. This comes after the Rajput community urged CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the step: they have alleged Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie insults Rani Padmini, on whom it is based. UP and Rajasthan have also asked for its controversial bits to be removed.
The initial objections have grown manifold
Bhansali is no stranger to scandals, but protests have been unprecedented this time. Rajputs, Jats, Brahmins and Muslims in Rajasthan, Haryana, UP, MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka have led protests against it. The original objection was to an alleged love affair between Padmavati and Alauddin Khalji, which Bhansali has denied. Protesters are now objecting to many other issues, including Deepika Padukone's dance in 'Ghoomar'.
Sets were vandalized, threats were made against Deepika and Bhansali
The Karni Sena, which is spearheading the movement, has vandalized the movie's sets more than once, hung effigies of Bhansali and Padukone and threatened to cut her nose. In MP, the 'Sanskriti Bachao Manch' performed a havan against the two artistes and threatened to file a case of sedition against them. AN MP BJP leader promised Rs. 10,000 to whoever beats Bhansali with shoes.
Bhansali tried accommodating protesters' demands, only to more protests
After widespread demands for a special screening, Bhansali succumbed and organized one before Padmavati's release. Journalists Rajat Sharma and Arnab Goswami, who were both present, dismissed the allegations against 'Padmavati' on their prime-time shows. But even this didn't go down well with some like MP Revenue Minister Umashankar Gupta, who opined there was "something unjustifiable with the script as it is being screened privately".
Unexpectedly, the special screening backfired, and how
According to sources, the screening backfired badly. Goswami's "I've-seen-THE FILM-you-haven't" was done more tauntingly than informatively. Even CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi expressed disappointment with the move, "berating the Padmavati team for jumping the gun and showing the film to key media persons before the CBFC".
Is this the end of the 'Padmavati' war for Bhansali?
Sources said Bhansali has almost given up. When Viacom18 called to inform him about the postponement "for a more suitable Friday in the next couple of months", he simply said 'okay' and hung up. "The fight has gone out of his spirit." But Viacom18 too was under pressure from its US headquarters. They now say there're in no hurry to announce a release date.
