After all the slaps, chaos, film getting postponed, Padmaavat earlier known as Padmavati is all set to release with CBFC’s approval on 25th January 2018.
Alas, the happiness didn’t last longer. Just after the release was announced, the movie was banned in 6 states – Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.
Post this, the producers of the movie decided to appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the release.
And today, they have the good news. The Supreme Court stayed the ban on Padmaavat in all the 6 states. The court said that the states must ensure law and order is maintained, and they cannot ban the film citing it as a problem.
CJI Misra said during the hearing that:
“If we go by this (arguments leveled against films), 60 percent of literature, even classical literature of India cannot be read.”
Senior lawyer, Harish Salve on behalf of Padmaavat’s producers argued:
“If states are banning a film, then it destroys the federal structure. States can’t touch the content of a film. If anybody has a problem, they can approach the appellate tribunal.”
The judges said:
“A film may bomb at the box office or people may choose to not watch it, but states cannot use their machinery to prohibit its exhibition citing risk to public order.”
In case you didn’t know, the CBFC had cleared the film for release after making some recommendations including a change in the film’s title.
Rajput groups have been protesting against the film’s release and claim that it distorts history and shows Rani Padmavati in poor light.
Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor starrer Padmaavat are all set to release on 25th January 2018.
