The Padmavati Saga!

Threats, Bans and what not. It has been over a week now since ‘Padmavati’ is making headlines. Thanks to the Rajput outfit, Karni Sena. With the film's release around the corner, the attack and the mud-slinging was expected. The first signs of the disliking were shown a few months back. Protesters vandalized the set during the shoot in Rajasthan. While amid the ongoing protests, the film-makers have ‘voluntarily’ deferred the release date, the sensor board has not cleared the film, citing that its application was incomplete. The matter also reached the Supreme Court. The Apex Court refused to stay the release as the censor board was yet to clear the film. Here is a brief of what the controversy is all about The story is based on Rani Padmini. Also known as Padmavati, she was a legendary 13th-14th-century Indian queen. She belonged from the Singhal kingdom of Sri Lanka. Her beauty made the King of Chittor, Ratan Sen attract. After an adventurous quest, he won her hand in marriage and brought her to Chittor. The Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji also had an eye on the queen’s beauty. He tried to invade. Devpal, the king of Kumbhalner killed Ratan Sen in a duel. This made the road easy for Khilji. But, before he could capture Chittor, Rani committed Jauhar (self-immolation) to protect their honour. Protesters vandalized the set in Rajasthan. The social outfit claimed that the portrayal of Rani Padmini is not right. Distortion of history was being done, they added. Also, there were scenes of intimacy between the Rani and invader Khilji. While the filmmakers have denied any such scenes in the movie the socio-religious outfits have refused to back down. Amidst the protests, there are a number of threats that were given by not just the Karni Sena but also other outfits. Let’s take a look at how the artists have been threatened Chopping off Deepika Padukone’s Nose. Mahipal Singh Makrana, a leader of the Shri Rajput Karni, openly threatened to chop off Deepika Padukone’s nose. “Rajput Karni Sena is fighting to protect the image of women being portrayed in the films. We never raise a hand to women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha for violating the rules and culture of India,” Makrana said. Rs 5 crores for Bhansali or Padukone’s head The threats worsened. A Meerut based Thakur leader offered Rs 5 crore as bounty to anyone who beheads Bhansali or Padukone, reported The Times of India. “Anyone who brings the head of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone will be rewarded with Rs 5 crore. Rani Ma Padmavati had sacrificed her life with 12,000 other women in mass immolation (Jauhar), and Bhansali has raised a question on her courage by showing her in a bad light in his film. This is unacceptable. Either both of them should leave the country or get ready to be beheaded,” Thakur Abhishek Som, national president of Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Yuva Mahasabha, was quoted in the TOI report. Bounty doubled to Rs 10 crore, break Ranveer Singh’s legs BJP state media coordinator for Haryana, Suraj Pal Amu announced a Rs 10 crore bounty for anyone beheading Padukone and Bhansali. “I want to congratulate the Meerut youth for announcing Rs 5 crore bounty for beheading Deepika, and Bhansali. We will reward the ones beheading them with Rs 10 crore, and also take care of their family’s needs,” the BJP leader said. Addressing Ranveer Singh in Hindi, Amu berated the actor for supporting Bhansali, saying “If you do not take back your words, we will break your legs.” Burning Theatres Telangana BJP leader, T Raja Singh came into limelight with his statement asking people to boycott the movie. Speaking at a gathering of the Rajput community in Hyderabad, Singh said, “If anyone burns down the theatre which shows Padmavatiji (the fictional queen) in poor light... I will take the responsibility of bailing out that person,” reported The News Minute. How the People-in-Power reacted 3 states so far have reacted to the controversy. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. While the Chief Ministers of MP and Gujarat have banned the film in their respective states, UP CM Yogi Adityanath has blamed the director for distorting the facts. On the other hand, the Rajasthan BJP has completely asked for a ban giving a free hand to the violent mobs. Protesters also had the back of CM of Punjab, Capt. Amarinder Singh. This has shown the carelessness of the politicians about handling state’s law and order situation. The fringe groups seem to have been enjoying their work of threatening the artists and with no action from the Centre, they are getting a free rope to hang on. The Prime Minister too has chosen to keep mum from staying silent on the issue. Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the Karni Sena Chief on the 1st of December has ordered a Bharat Bandh. It remains to be seen how long will the politicians remain silent to safeguard their vote-banks with elections nearing.

NIS

Related Articles

Ex-Bureaucrats nurturing Policy Specialists

KGMU Organizes Free Orthodontic Awareness and Dental Checkup Camp on World Orthodontic Day

YouTube Marketing Services in Uttar Pradesh with YTL Courses

PM Narendra Modi ‘directs’ ISRO to land man on moon by 2040