Maharashtra Rajputs warn of stir against ‘distortions’ in Padmavat

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 10

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Several Rajput organisations in Maharashtra have demanded a special screening of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmavat’ for the community before its theatrical release, and threaten to renew protests.

State tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal, who represents the Sindhkeda constituency in Maharashtra’s Dhule district and is one of the leaders who had previously demanded a ban on the movie, told reporters on Wednesday: “We still do not know what scenes have been cut from the movie. Responsible people from the community must be allowed to watch the movie and decide if there are any distortions of history before its released in theatres”.

The Rajput community, which first settled in north Maharashtra and Vidarbha, before spreading to the rest of the state, is an influential force in business and politics in the state.

Bharatiya Itihas & Sanskriti Rakshak Manch, an organisation headed by Rajput leader Raj Purohit—a BJP leader from Maharashtra who had mobilised Rajput protests in Mumbai in November last—has also demanded a screening of the movie for the community.

Rajput protests in Maharashtra with BJP leaders’ active support have caused uncertainty over the movie’s release in the state.

The BJP government in Maharashtra has so far remained silent over whether it would ban the movie.

The movie will see release on January 25, after almost two months’ delay. Originally titled ‘Padmavati’ for the film’s eponymous Rajput Queen Padmavati played by Deepika Padukone, the film was renamed ‘Padmavat’ on the Central Board of Film Certification’s insistence. The CBFC also ordered what it calls 5 “changes” to the movie.  

Rajputs have been demanding a ban on the movie for distorting history.

Historians however remain divided over the existence of the Rajput queen.