Indian SC refuses to intervene in censor board's job
India's top court yesterday rejected a petition seeking a stay on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed Bollywood film "Padmavati", saying that it cannot take over the duties of the Censor Board.
Dismissing the petition, the Supreme Court said that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) considers all aspects before granting certificate to any film and, therefore, the court should not intervene in the Censor Board's jurisdiction.
It was hearing the petition, filed by Siddharajsinh M Chudasama and 11 others, which also sought setting up of a committee of eminent historians to check the veracity of the Bhansali-directed film's script to prevent any inaccuracy in the portrayal of Rani Padmavati.
The petitioners also sought a stay on the film's release till the time the alleged historical inaccuracies in the movie are corrected by the producer and the director.
"Padmavati" is based on the legend of Rani Padmini, a Hindu Rajput queen, mentioned in Padmavat, an Avadhi poem written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540.
The film, which has Deepika Padukone in the title role as Rani Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, is slated to release on December 1.
The movie has run into controversy over its plot, with some right wing Hindu outfits calling it the “wrong” portrayal of the Rajput queen.
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