GOOD NEWS: SC Grants Green Signal To Padmaavat; Strikes Down Ban Imposed By 4 Indian States!

The Supreme Court has stayed a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali ’s Padmaavat imposed by four states, ensuring an all India release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film on January 25. The ban was imposed by Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh despite the film being cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

SC stayed orders by the state governments that banned release of Padmaavat and restrained other states from issuing such a ban. The apex court said it is the duty of states to maintain law and order and that the creative content is an inseparable aspect of article 19 (1), freedom of speech and expression and needless to emphasise that right is not absolute.

Supreme Court stays notification by Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, grants green signal to release of the film #Padmaavat. pic.twitter.com/Aqsi4x9meX

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018

Starring Deepika Padukone , Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles, Padmaavat is based on Mohammad Jayasi’s poem Padmavat. Protests raged across India against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film for allegedly distorting history, a charge the filmmakers have vehemently denied.

Arguing on the behalf of the film’s producers, advocate Harish Salve was quoted by ANI as saying, “If states are banning a film, then it is destroying federal structure. It is a serious matter. If somebody has a problem,then he or she can approach appellate tribunal for relief. State can’t touch the content of a film.”

“Request the Central government to pass a direction to the states for a better and an effective step and solution,” he added.

The producers had filed a plea in the SC against the ban. In their plea, the producers questioned the right of these four state governments to ban the film when the apex court has already clarified that the film’s screening can only be suspended in a particular area if there is a law and order situation developing.

Originally titled Padmavati, the film’s name was changed to Padmaavat as suggested by the CBFC. The board recently cleared the film for release with U/A certificate and a set of five modifications. The movie has been facing violent protests by the fringe group, Shri Rajput Karni Sena who blame the director and lead actors of insulting Rajputs and the community’s honour. Protesters have issued death threats against Bhansali and Padukone while alleging that the queen is shown romancing Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji in the movie – a charge the filmmakers have denied.

Slated to hit theatres on January 25, Padmaavat is now set for a box office clash with Akshay Kumar ’s PadMan.