Will arrange for ‘Padmavati’ release in Bengal: Mamata

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, November 24

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said she would welcome “Padmavati” director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his team to the state and make special arrangements for the film’s premiere and release in Bengal.

Banerjee, who has been often accused by the Opposition parties in the state of pandering to the Muslim sentiments, had earlier tweeted that the row over the film was a “calculated plan” to destroy freedom of expression in the country.

“If they (Bhansali and producer) cannot release Padmavati in any other state, we will make special arrangements for it in our state. Bengal will be very happy and Bengal will be proud to do that. We will take care of it. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his ‘Padmavati’ team are welcome in our state,” she said here today at an event organised by a media group.

On November 20, Banerjee had tweeted: “The ‘Padmavati’ controversy is not only unfortunate but also a calculated plan of a political party to destroy the freedom to express ourselves”.

“We condemn this super emergency. All in the film industry must come together and protest in one voice,” Banerjee had said.

The release of the film, made by acclaimed director Bhansali with stars such as Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in its cast, has been deferred indefinitely by its producers following protests by Rajput who have alleged that the story of legendary queen Padmini of Chittor has been trivialised in the movie. “Padmavati” was initially slated to be released on December 1.

The film has been facing controversy ever since Bhansali started its shooting earlier this year.

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Body found hanging at Jaipur fort

Jaipur: The body of a 40-year-old man was found hanging from the boundary wall of Nahargarh Fort with message “‘Padmavati’ ka virodh” (in protest against ‘Padmavati’) on Friday morning. Another message, written on rocks near the body, read: “Hum putle nahin jalate… latkate hain” (we don’t burn effigies… we hang them). DCP North Satyendra Singh said the victim was Chetan Kumar Saini, a resident of Shastri Nagar, and that it was premature to connect the incident with “Padmavati” protests. — PTI