The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a legal attempt to block the global release of Bollywood film Padmavati that has sparked violent protests, warning against pre-judging the controversial historical epic.
Caste-based groups have been staging violent demonstrations alleging the film distorts historical facts.
The epic was scheduled for release in India on December 1 but delayed indefinitely after the censor board refused to certify it.
The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a legal petition to delay its release abroad, saying nobody should pre-judge the censors before the film is classified.
“Responsible people in power and public office say certain things, and make comments on certain aspects, that violate the rule of law,” declared the bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.
“It’ll prejudice minds of board members while taking a decision,” the bench said.
“We are sure they will be guided by the basic premise under the rule of law and not venture outside.”
A number of officials, including state chief ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, had vowed to ban screenings of the film in their jurisdictions unless controversial sections were removed.
The leader of a caste-related group also offered Rs50mn ($769,000) to anyone who “beheaded” lead actress Deepika Padukone or director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said last week that the film will not be allowed to release in his state even if the censor board cleared it.
His Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath said that if action is taken against people who are offering bounties on the heads of Bhansali, action should also be taken against the filmmaker for hurting sentiments.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani echoed his Madhya Pradesh counterpart by saying that the state government will not allow Padmavati to release in the state.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too yesterday ordered a ban on the film in his state.
The ban would be in place “till controversy surrounding it gets over,” state BJP legislator Neeraj Kumar Bablu said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, welcomed the film with open arms.
“If they cannot release it in any other state, we will give special arrangement for Padmavati. Bengal will be very happy and Bengal will be proud to do that,” she said.
In January protesters belonging to the Rajput Karni Sena attacked Bhansali and vandalised the set during filming in Jaipur in Rajasthan.
Protesters attacked another set near Mumbai in March, burning costumes and other props.
The Karni Sena yesterday renewed its call for a nationwide ban on the film.
“Six states have already announced that they will not release the film in their states. We welcome it. Till the new release dates are announced, we want at least 20 CMs to do it. Nationwide ban is in the jurisdiction of government of India as per a section in the Cinematography Act. The Centre can ban a film even before or after clearance by the censor board,” Lokendra Singh Kalvi, founder-patron of the Karni Sena, said.
Lawyer M L Sharma, who brought the petition before the Supreme Court, had previously failed to prevent the film’s release in India.
Harish Salve, representing the film’s director and producer, said there was no intention of releasing the film abroad until it had received classification at home.
A worker tapes a message in support of the release of Padmavati on its poster in a cinema hall in Kolkata yesterday.
