Despite SC verdict, Padmaavat won't release in Gujarat

Won't Screen Padmaavat In Theatres, We're Scared, Says Director Of Gujarat Multiplex Association

Despite clearance from the Supreme Court, cinema owners in Gujarat are resistant in screening Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat on January 25.

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, stayed the order of four state governments and allowed the nation-wide release of Padmaavat. Protests and threats against the movie by fringe outfits like Karni Sena, however, continued.

Afraid of what will ensue if the movie is released, director of Gujarat Multiplex Association, Rakesh Patel said cinema halls in Gujarat will not screen the film.

Patel says huge loss is anticipated by the movie's release and no cinema owner would want to bear it.

"We have decided not to screen the movie in whole of Gujarat. Everyone is scared, No multiplex wants to bear the loss. Why will we bear the loss?," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Gujarat had earlier banned the release of Padmaavat in the state.

Fringe outfit Karni Sena and other Rajput organisations had threatened of disruptions and arson in Gujarat theaters if they screen the film on January 25.

Raj Shekhawat, Gujarat president of Shree Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena (SRRKS) on Friday openly threatened to torch all movie halls that dare to screen Padmaavat.

"We are ready to face all consequences. The feelings of Rajputs have been hurt by the Supreme Court decision. Our members will resort to undemocratic means if needed. We won't let the film release at any cost and torch all those theatres which release the film," the Times Of India quoted him as saying.

Members of the Karni Sena burnt tyres and vandalised buses in sections of Gujarat on Friday protesting the green signal by the Supreme Court on its release.

The flick, based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a 13th century Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Avadhi poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540, has been facing protests from various groups, particularly the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, for allegedly tampering with historical facts.

After Gujarat backs out, Padmaavat's fate in other states appears doubtful too

20 Jan 2018 17:42 IST
Updated : 17:42 IST

Keyur Seta

Gujarat Multiplex Association has decided not to screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat fearing violence. "We have decided not to screen the movie in whole of Gujarat. Everyone is scared. No multiplex wants to bear the loss. Why will we bear the loss? said Rakesh Patel, director of the association in an interview with news agency ANI.

It seems that the fate of the film is doubtful in other states too, especially Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, where the film was earlier banned by the state governments before the Supreme Court ordered the ban be lifted.

While speaking to Cinestaan.com, Jayprakash Choksi, chief of the Central Circut Cine Association, the representative body of film distributors, said, "It is doubtful if the film will even release in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. I myself won't go to watch the film on the first day. I will go only if the situation becomes better in the next few days.

Choksi who resides in Madhya Pradesh, says the silence of the state and the central government is making people wary of watching the film. "There has been no action taken on any Karni Sena member. It seems that the government is indirectly supporting them, he said. But, Choksi believes Padmaavat is not expected to face problems in the eastern and southern parts of India. "The film is expected to run properly in these areas, he added.

There have been various reports about Padmaavat not getting distributors. But Murli Chhatwani, a distributor from Gujarat, tell us that this is not true. "Viacom has distributors all over. But theatre owners are afraid that in the possibility of vandalism, they will face loses. They have to first get ready for screening the film. They will get ready only when they get protection or some confirmation that their theatres won't be damaged, he said.

Manoj Desai, owner of Mumbai's iconic G7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir has decided to demand protection fearing violence. "I am in Gujarat currently. I will reach Mumbai tomorrow. First thing after I reach, I will be demanding police protection. If we don't take police protection and the theatres get damaged, there is no point, he told Cinestaan.com over the telephone.

Another distributor on the basis of anonymity said that theatres are receiving threats from fringe groups: "I have heard that they are getting messages threatening them not to show the film.

Meanwhile, lawyer Harish Salve too has received threats for defending Padmaavat in the Supreme Court and an FIR has been filed against an unknown person.

On the other hand, Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA), in a letter (below) has requested theatres to screen the film and urged state governments to ensure law and order. "We as a film body request all the exhibitors to stand by the decision of the apex court and exhibit the film Padmaavat without any fear. We request the respective state government authorities of the four states to enforce law and order, said an official statement issued by IFTDA.

I wonder where is it releasing? Is it the same padmavati? I still remember that horrendous poster though.

I can only feel pity for the sad and shameful condition of this country

Padmaavat release: Rajasthan minister says Raje govt to approach Supreme Court

Jaipur: The Vasundhara Raje government has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against its order allowing the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali film Padmaavat, a senior Rajasthan minister said on Saturday.

The Supreme Court had earlier this week stayed notifications issued by some states banning the release of the controversial film. Rajasthan's home and justice minister Gulabchand Kataria said the state government has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme court. The review petition would be filed on Monday or Tuesday, he said.

Kataria also asked the Karni Sena, a group protesting against the film, to be a party to the petition. "After studying the Supreme Court's decision against the ban on the film, the state government has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme court. The state government is of the view that the honour of the historic event of Jauhar' should be protected as per the public sentiment, he told reporters after a meeting with Karni Sena leaders.

Along with the Karni sena, the erstwhile royal family of Mewar is also likely to be a party in the petition, he said. Rajput outfits, especially Karni Sena, have accused Sanjay Leela Bhansali of presenting distorted facts regarding Rani Padmavati in the film. The film production company has rejected the allegations.

Karni Sena on Saturday also claimed that Bhansali Productions had sent a letter inviting them to watch the film. Chief patron of Shree Rajput Karni Sena Lokendra Singh Kalvi, however, termed it a drama and said the letter will be burnt and no reply given. "This letter is nothing but a drama by the film maker. There is no date of the proposed screening the film and they have termed our objection as misguided grievances' which shows their approach and intention, Kalvi told reporters.

Kalvi said that the Supreme Court had ruled against a ban on the film but now a Janta curfew' would be imposed to prevent its release. "As a mark of respect to the Republic Day on 26 January, we are not calling for a bandh, now we are calling for a Janta curfew, he said. He said that the historians who were shown the film by the censor board were also of the opinion that the film should not be released.

After Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the Karni Sena has also targeted censor board chief Prasoon Joshi saying he should not enter Rajasthan. "If he comes here, he should come on his own responsibility, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh said. Joshi is scheduled to attend a session Main aur Who: Conversation with Myself' on 28 January, on the fourth day of the five-day literature festival beginning in Jaipur on 25 January.

Meanwhile, some film distributors have expressed unwillingness in purchasing the distribution rights of the film in the state. "I am not going to purchase the rights of the film as I am going out of the country on a family holiday on 24th January, a leading film distributor, Raj Bansal, told PTI. He said that the decision to purchase the rights could have been taken after the Supreme Court's order but sentiments of Rajasthan are associated with the film so he preferred to go out on holiday rather than purchasing the rights.

"If the distributors are not ready to purchase the rights, the film producer approaches the exhibitors (cinema halls) for exhibiting the film but confusion is prevailing in case of Padmaavat, Govind Khandelwal, manger of Entertainment Paradise said. He said that there were queries from audiences but since no decision had been taken, no booking has taken place.

The manager of Raj Mandir cinema, Ashok Tanwar, said that when distributors were not purchasing the rights, there was no question of releasing the film. "We are not expecting the film's release and this is what we are telling those who are making queries about the film's release, he said. There are close to 280 cinema hall screens in Rajasthan.

First Published: Sat, Jan 20 2018. 10 45 PM IST

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SLB is very brave.👏..mera 200 cr doob raha ho toh meri toh death he ho jaani thee😭

Originally posted by: Resident_Evil

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200 crores? Recovery? 🤣

Originally posted by: ImagineMe

😉

Akki is smart to keep his movie away from all negativity. His shows would have been impacted too.

Now he comes on a conflict free weekend. 👏

True that! 😛

Silly and stupid beyond comprehension. We waste time and resources on issues like this while ignoring progress , education , poverty and hunger.
This drama has made me inclined to watch yeh movie now. Wasn't even a bit interested earlier.

Meenakshi Shedde: Jaisi Karni waisi bharni

Mrs Todphod Singh was mighty pleased with the Supreme Court ruling on Padmaavat

Illustration/Uday Mohite

Mrs Todphod Singh was mighty pleased with the Supreme Court ruling on Padmaavat. The ruling said that Padmaavat will be released all over India, and it stayed the ban on the film - issued even after it was cleared by the censor board - by the four, right wing-ruled states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. Now, she came to the court of Raja Andhayug feeling vindicated, dragging her husband Todphod Singh by his collar, while thrashing him soundly with a broomstick. As you can imagine, it is quite difficult to do both at the same time, but sometimes aata-majhi-satakli anger can give you impressive multi-tasking powers. She had come to the Raja for justice. "Maharaj, I have told him at least now he must get a real job and look after our family and three children, instead of just being a blackmailing Rajput Karni Sena thug, but he simply won't listen," she said.

"Maharaj, please save my life," Todphod Singh begged the king. "My wife keeps telling me 'jaisi Karni waisi bharni'. She says that if I have even a drop of Rajput honour left in me, then after the Supreme Court ruling, I must defend my honour by committing jauhar, just as Padmavati did."

Raja Andhayug's brain was spinning like a ghoomar, so Guru Tamasoma stepped in. "What is this nonsense, woman? Only Rajput women commit jauhar. How dare you suggest that even Rajput men commit jauhar? Explain yourself," he roared. Cool as a cucumber, Mrs Todphod Singh replied, "Toady (that was her pet name for Todphod Singh) has already burnt many cinema theatres, vandalised a school where small schoolchildren were studying, threatened to cut off Sanjay Leela Bhansali's head and Deepika Padukone's nose. All because his honour was being besmirched by a film he hadn't even seen. What nonsense! Now that the Supreme Court has stayed the ban and ruled that the film will be shown all over India, I told him, if you have any Rajput honour at all, then you should commit jauhar just like Padmavati did. But only a true Rajput can do that, and Toady has no guts to commit jauhar. His Rajput courage goes only so far as attacking unarmed women like Deepika Padukone or small schoolchildren. If he does not even have Padmavati's courage, who protected her own honour by committing jauhar, how dare he claim to honour her? Can he, for instance, show us a Jauhar 101 demo, so this nation can see how it's done correctly? If India is going back to the Dark Ages, we must do it properly, in style, with all the bells and whistles." Vidhushak smiled approvingly.

Meanwhile, Raja Andhayug exploded on learning that Rani Shanti Devi had already done first-day-first-show block booking for Padmaavat for her entire ladies' gang. "You are anti-national," the Raja screamed. "But I'm not taking you with my friends anyway, darling," the Queen sweetly told the king. "Now, do you want to join me?" she asked Mrs Todphod Singh. Mrs Todphod Singh nodded, mighty pleased with the Queen. And the two, who had already seen Ae Dil Hai Mushkil together, sauntered out of the court.

Meenakshi Shedde is South Asia Consultant to the Berlin Film Festival, award-winning critic, curator to festivals worldwide and journalist. Reach her at meenakshishedde@gmail.com