'Jodhaa Akbar' not released in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Feb 15 (IANS) Ashutosh Gowariker's mega epic 'Jodhaa Akbar' was not screened Friday in Rajasthan following protests by the Karni Sena, a Rajput community organisation.

Karni Sena, which is spearheading the campaign against the release of this historical romance movie, feels that Gowariker has distorted facts in his magnum opus.

The theatre owners of the state, fearing agitation by the Karni Sena, did not screen the film.

Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the chief of the Karni Sena, addressing a press conference here Friday said that the Sena has proposed to Gowariker that the film be shown to a panel of historians and state government representatives in Jaipur.

'After the screening of the film to the panel, the producer will have to delete the objectionable sequences and Gowariker will have to tender an apology to the Sena for hurting the feelings of the Rajput community. Only then will the screening of the film be allowed,' Kalvi said.

'I also called up the distributor of the film, Anil Thadani, and asked him to delete the objectionable parts from the film.'

He said that he has apprised Sharmila Tagore, chairperson of the Censor Board, about how the film is a bundle of distorted history that has hurt the feelings of the Rajput community.

Kalvi criticised the state BJP government for not putting a ban on the screening of the film.