Censor certificate should not be issued to ‘Padmavati’ – Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

HJS submitted a memorandum opposing release of film ‘Padmavati’ to CBFC

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on 14th November submitted the representation in opposition to the film ‘Padmavati’ in the main office of the Censor Board. Mr. Raju Vaidya, the departmental president of the Censor Board accepted the representation.  The delegates stated that since the social sentiments with regard to the film ‘Padmavati’ were very severe, ask Mr. Bhansali to screen the film before representatives of Hindu organisations and answer their queries concerning the said film before giving the sensor certificate to the said film. Mr. Vaidya assured saying that the Board had not received the film as yet; before giving the censor certificate we will see the film very carefully and then only will give the censor certificate. At that time, spokesperson Mrs. Nayana Bhagat of Sanathan Sanstha, Mr. Chandrakant Bhadirke of HJS were present along with other delegates.

 

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To,
The Chairman
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
Mumbai

Subject : Cutting objectionable scenes from forthcoming film ‘Padmavati, and not issuing Censorship Certificate to the film till such time; failing which the responsibility for outrage in the the public would be that of the Censor Board

Dear Sir,

A Hindi film ‘Padmavati’, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali will be released on 1st December 2017. Like controversial films exhibited earlier, the efforts are made in this film also to cause a contempt of Indian culture, traditions, civilisation, ideal heroes-brave queens in Indian history, similarly distort the glorifying history of Hindus, as is evident from the trailer of the film aired so far. Through this film, Bhansali has hurt the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus. Many Hindu organisations have taken several objections to the film. The Censor Board should take into consideration all these objections while censoring the film. The Censor Board must take care to ensure that none of the scenes in the film affects social fabric. We are submitting ahead few aspects about the film and Bhansali.

1. During the ancient times, women born in noble Hindu families never used to dance before the society; on the contrary, they used to fight with swords and make enemy dance in the battle fields. Despite such a glorious history of their history, Bhansali has shown Queen Padmavati dancing by distorting the history. This is a great contempt of Queen Padmavati and has hurt the emotions of entire Hindu community including the Rajput society.

2. Earlier Bhansali had shown the wife of Bajirao Peshwa, Kashibai dancing in his film ‘Bajirao-Mastani’. There is no reference nor any evidence in any of history books that Kashibai or Padmavati performed dance. Still, Bhansali distorted the history by creating an imaginary script for the film.

3. The freedom of expression and art in no way gives right to any film producer to interfere in the history. Such act is a misuse of constitutional rights and punishable offence under Indian Penal Code 295 A.

4. History is as important as the freedom of art. The same importance should be given to the image, faith and respect imbibed in the mind. This should be realised by Bhansali and those promoting freedom of art.

5. ‘Ghumar’ is a type of Dance in vogue in Rajasthani culture and only a certain section in the society performs this dance. This dance was never performed by any queen or princess. This aspect should have been studied by Bhanslai. Rather, a doubt is created that despite studying this aspect, Bhansali is committing such nefarious acts to produce box-office hit films.

6. To depict Queen Padmavati, who had committed ‘Johar’ (self-immolation) to protect her character, as dancing before public is her great contempt. Therefore, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti demands that the scene of the song and dance should be cut.

7. Such scenes in a film are deeply imbibed on unblemished mind of children. As a result, the future generation would remember only the dance of Queen Padmavati from the film. Thus. We are imbibing wrong sanskars on the future generation.

8. Some organisations have also raised objection that few objectionable scenes were shot on Queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji. In this regard Bhansali had presented a Video in which he claimed, ‘I was inspired by Queen Padmavati. There is nothing objectionable in my film; only rumours are spread’. If this were true, the simple solution is to exhibit the film in presence of the representatives of the Hindu organisations and clear their doubts. The Censor Board should interfere and take a stand that unless Bhansali agrees to this demand, censor certificate will not be issued to the film. If Bhansali fails to take such action, the Censor Board should refuse the certification of the film.

9. Karani Sena and other Rajput organisations have warned that the theatre owners should exhibit the film in their theatres on their own responsibility. This goes to show the seriousness of the sentiments of the public. Therefore, to maintain the law and order and ensure that emotions of any section of the society do not get hurt, the Censor Board should consider above suggestions in all seriousness and clear the objections raised on the film.

*If the film were to be released without clearing above objections and outrage is spread in the society, the responsibility will lie on the Central Board of Film Certification.*

 

Thanking you,

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti