Gujarat becomes fifth state to shut the door on film Padmavati, CM calls it 'foul play with culture'

Ahmedabad, Nov 22: In more bad news for noted film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the government in Gujarat on Wednesday banned the release of his controversial movie Padmavati across the state.

The announcement in this regard was made by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who said that the film, which ''distorts facts and hurts the sentiments of Rajputs'' will not be allowed to be released.

Govt of Gujarat will not allow Padmavati - a movie hurting sentiments of Rajputs - to get released in the State. We can’t allow our history to be distorted. We believe in freedom of speech and expression but any foul play with our great culture is not tolerated, Rupani tweeted.

The Government of Gujarat will not allow #Padmavati - a movie hurting sentiments of Rajputs - to get released in the State. We can’t allow our history to be distorted. We believe in freedom of speech & expression but any foul play with our great culture is not tolerated.

— Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) November 22, 2017

With this Gujarat has become the fifth state to ban the release of Padmavati, which has landed in troubled waters over allegations of ''blatant distortion of historical facts and negative portrayal of the Rajput Queen.''

The film, which was slated to be released on December 1, also awaits clearance from the Censor Board.

The Sri Rajput Karni Sena, which is leading the protest against Padmavati, had even called for a Bharat Bandh on December 1 – the day when the film was scheduled to be released.

Besides Rajput Karni Sena, several right-wing outfits, political parties, direct descendants of the Queen Padmavati and several state governments have opposed the film's release.

Earlier today, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh also banned the film's release. However, it said that the life of Rajput Queen Padmavati will be made part of school textbooks across the state.

The MP Chief Minister also referred to Queen Padmavati – the subject of Bhansali's controversial movie – as 'Rashtramata Padmavati'.

'Rashtramata Padmavati to be included in Madhya Pradesh school textbooks, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was quoted as saying by a leading TV news channel.

Chouhan had earlier said that a film, which has "distorted facts" about Rajput queen Padmavati and allegedly shows disrespect to her, will not be released in Madhya Pradesh.

"The insult will not be tolerated," Chouhan said, eliciting a rousing applause from the audience.

While calling Padmavati 'Rashtramata' (mother of the nation) Chouhan said, "The film which distorts facts and disrespects 'Rashtamata' Padmavati will not be allowed to screen in any part of Madhya Pradesh."

He went ahead to say that even if the movie is passed by the censor board for release in the country, it won't make it to the screens in the state.

Interestingly, the MP government has also constituted an award in the name of the erstwhile Rajput  Queen. A 'Rashtramata Padmavati Award' has been instituted by the state government for people doing outstanding work for the protection of women, he had said.

He said a memorial of the queen would be built at a site in the state capital, where a memorial for the country's brave soldiers has been proposed.

Chouhan made this announcement at an event where BJP's Madhya Pradesh chief Nandkumar Singh Chauhan called Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali a 'sinner' and alleged that in the movie 'Padmavati', history had been tampered with for the sake of money.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh is based on Rajput queen Padmavati.

Amid rumours that there was a romantic dream sequence between Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji's characters, various Rajput and other groups have been protesting against the film, alleging it "distorts" history and hurts the sentiments of the people.

Historians are, however, divided on whether Rani Padmavati even existed. Rawal said actor Ranveer Singh should not have played the character of Delhi sultan Alauddin Khalji in the movie.

"He (Ranveer Singh) should have thought what role is he playing," he said.

Khalji has been projected as a hero in the movie and today's generation believe in movies, he said. "Do they want them to believe that Khalji was a hero?" the minister asked.

Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh - all BJP ruled states - and Punjab, ruled by the Congress, have already opposed the release of the movie.