January 18, 2018
The Supreme Court on Thursday paved the way for an all-India
release for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat" on January 25 by staying the
operation of orders banning the release of the film by the Gujarat, Rajasthan
and Haryana governments. The film industry hailed the decision.
Staying
the "notifications and orders" banning the release of the controversial film by
the three states, Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilklar and
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the remaining states will not ban the screening of
the film.
Referring to its earlier judgement, the court said it was
incumbent upon the state governments to ensure law and order.
The court
order came on a plea by "Padmaavat" producers -- Bhansali Productions and
Viacom18 Motion Pictures -- challenging the ban on the screening of the film by
the three states that didn't want it to be screened over alleged distortion of
historical facts.
Rajput outfit Shree Rajput Karni Sena, which is at the
forefront of the protests against the movie, has chalked out its next strategy.
A leader of the group told IANS that they it reach out to cinema hall owners
across the country asking them to not show the movie or face consequences.
Film fraternity members Shyam Benegal, Manish Mundra, Madhur Bhandarkar and
Ashoke Pandit were among those who lauded the Supreme Court decision.
Benegal told IANS that it's "quite clearly a victory of freedom of expression"
while filmmaker Pandit said: "It's a very big success for the film industry."
"This judgement has broken the arrogance of the political parties who banned
the film thinking they can do it," Pandit told IANS.
Producer Mundra
tweeted: "Banning the film 'Padmaavat' even after CBFC certification was a
cowardly act by the states. Were trying to do vote bank politics and or shying
away from their responsibilities of managing law and order."
Trade expert
Komal Nahta said the judgement was "a tight slap on the faces of the states
which banned the film". "Red letter day ... the film industry and lovers of
cinema all over."
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana hailed it as the "best news of
the day which restores faith in our democracy". Filmmaker Bhandarkar welcomed
the decision for the movie, which features Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and
Shahid Kapoor.
Author Chetan Bhagat said it's a "great decision" as
"every story can't be told how bullies want it".
Filmmaker Rohit Shetty
hoped the movie gets a "great release".
"Padmaavat", which was earlier
scheduled to release as "Padmavati" on December 1, is hitting the screens after
facing multiple hurdles.
Bhansali was first assaulted on the film's set
in Jaipur last year, after which the film's set in Kolhapur was vandalised.
Rajput outfits and some groups backed by the BJP have been actively
protesting its release, contending that it plays with Rajput pride - something
that the makers have repeatedly denied.
Bhansali has said the film is
inspired by 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's poem "Padmavat" and that
it's a film Indians will be proud of.