JAIPUR: Controversy over the portrayal of a 13th-14th century CE queen of Chittor in the film “Padmavati”, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, erupted again with the fort town of Chittorgarh observing a bandh to protest against the film’s scheduled release on December 1.
The bandh was called by the Jauhar Smriti Sansthan (JSS), a research and social group formed in 1950 with the aim of reviving pride in Mewar’s rulers.
The bandh call was circulated on social media a few days ago and received instant support from various groups, including the Karni Sena, a self-proclaimed body of Rajputs in Rajasthan. The Sansthan’s formal bandh announcement a day ago was obeyed by schools, colleges, markets and cinema halls. Rajput women even participated in large numbers in a protest march while holding placards that read “Respect Women”.
The march concluded at the Chittorgarh collectorate where effigies of Bhansali and other cast and crew of the film were burned.
“We had called for Chittorgarh bandh today, and we got support from everyone. It was a complete bandh in Chittorgarh today,” said Mahipal Singh Makrana, state president of Sri Rajput Karni said.
Rani Padmini or Padmavati was queen of Chittorgarh.
He said before releasing posters and trailer of the film it should have been shown to the historians and intellectuals, but inspite of the promise made by Bhansali’s team a few months back nothing was done.
“We are now going to Gujarat to hold a press conference there and also hold a rally in Gandhinagar on November 12 against the movie,” he said.
In January, activists of a Rajput organisation, Shi Rajput Karni Sena had protested, manhandled and misbehaved with the crew of “Padmavati” claiming that Bhansali was distorting historical facts in the movie.
They had also damaged some cameras and other equipments. Bhansali had to stop shooting.
“We will not allow distorted facts to be shown in the film at any cost,” Makrana said.
Karni Sena claims that they have got a big library and that in no book is it written that Alauddin Khilji fell in love with Padmavati or that he was her lover.
