Mudda discusses if film is historical faction, whether Bhansali did right by showing it to select audiences and justification of the rage over it even before it has been screened

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking a direction to the maker of the film Padmavati not to release the Movie outside India on December 1. The movie, its actress and director faced flak from various political leaders and fringe groups for allegedly distorting history and maligning the name of Queen Padmavati. Some of the state governments—Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan—have banned the film.

Thursday’s edition of Mudda, APN’s daily current affairs show, debated the controversy. Moderated by Anant Tyagi, the guests were national president of Rajput Mahila Sangh Prerna Shekhawat, chairperson of UP Law Commission Justice AN Mittal, BJP spokesperson Ashok Goel, film critic Nalin Ranjan Singh, Congress spokesperson Onkar Nath Singh and consulting editor of APN Govind Pant Raju.

Ashok Goel said: “When in January the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali said he will show it to the Rajput Karni Sena before the release, why did he not show it to them? He showed it to some select people, mostly journalists, who told the media that no false facts have been shown in the film.”

Prerna Shekhawat asked why people are politicising the issue. She added: “The movie is distorting our history. The movie shouldn’t have been made in the first place. We will not let this movie run in theatres.” She further said that Ghoomar dance (a traditional folk dance) is not a part of Rajasthan’s history and the clothes worn in the movie are not the type of clothes Rajasthani people wear.

Onkar Nath Singh said: “This controversy about the film will only make it more popular. It will result in more profit for the director if and when it is released. No one cares about the pride of the Rajputs. Political leaders in Gujarat are just making it an issue to increase their votes before the elections.”

Nalin Ranjan Singh said the story of queen Padmavati is not a new and made-up story. He said: “It is there in history books. When I made the film about the letter of Gandhi to Hitler, I was asked by the Censor Board to give proof. For movies based on history, we have to give proof. And, we should remember that the story is not a personal history. It is India’s history… How can someone ban it when it has not been released yet? What are they banning? This is nothing but a political game.”

Govind Pant Raju said members of the Karni Sena had vandalised the sets during the film’s shooting earlier and now they have given out death threats. He opined: “Whose pride are we talking about here? Isn’t it India’s pride, too? Numerous movies have been made on our history before. Never have I seen such rage. Have we become less tolerant now?”

Justice AN Mittal told the audience that giving out death threats is a punishable offence. He said: “The director and the actress can file an FIR against this. I don’t think outrage even before the film has been passed by the censor board or released has any basis. State governments are banning the movie now to maintain law and order as it has become a sensitive issue before elections.”

Compiled by Usha Rani Das