The uncertainty surrounding the release of Padmavati, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s controversial film drama might just be coming to an end. The film is casting Deepika Padukone as queen Padmini, Ranveer Singh as Alauddin and Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Singh.
Yesterday the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) held a joint meeting of the examining committee on December 28 and came to a conclusion to give a U/A certificate for release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmavati’, which has been at the center of a controversy since last few months. But it will be released after few major modifications. The CBFC board has suggested total 26 cuts to the film and a change in the title to ‘Padmavat’ instead of Padmavati and they will issue the U/A certificate once the modifications are made.
An official of the sensor board said, “It has been approached with a balanced view keeping in mind both the filmmakers and Indian society. Considering those complexities and concerns around the movie the requirement for a special panel was felt by Film Certification board to add perspective to the final decision”. According to him, the film was reviewed by a special panel constituted by the CBFC team which included historians as it was partially based on historical facts.The panel consisted of Udaipur’s Arvind Singh, Dr. Chandramani Singh and Professor KK Singh from Jaipur University. Panel member had insights and also some reservations regarding those claimed historical facts and events and cultural aspects which were duly discussed at depth.
The 190 crore film ‘Padmavati‘, has drawn angry protests in BJP ruled states including Rajasthan where some fringe groups like the Karni Sena say the movie actually “distorts history”. Although they have not seen the film, few leaders of the Karni Sena and several politicians are saying that the 13th-century queen, Padmini, has been disrespected by Mr. Bhansali suggesting in his movie that queen Padmini was romantically involved with Muslim invader Alauddin Khilji.
Though Mr. Bhansali has denied any allusion to the love story, several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -ruled states like Rajasthan have banned the movie. They have declared that they will not permit it to screen even if it is certified by the censor board. The film’s release was originally planned for 1st December but has been pushed back.
According to legend, Queen Padmini was a Rajput warrior queen from Chittor in Rajasthan who set herself on fire to save her honor after Khilji defeated her husband in a battle. The CBFC board chairman said that the film’s producer and director, Sanjay Lila Bhansali, are in complete agreement with the changes.
He also said that this is also not the first time that a panel has been constituted, earlier, experts were consulted before the release of Aarakshan and Jodhaa Akbar film too.
Finally, all the filmmakers are happy to see that the film is releasing at the end of the story.
