India's censors clear 'Padmavati', objectors say protests to continue

NEW DELHI: India’s censors on Saturday cleared the controversial film “Padmavati” after suggesting some modifications including a change in the movie title.

The Bollywood film, which was slated to be released on Dec. 1, was indefinitely postponed by a studio run by a partnership of Viacom and Network 18 owned by Mumbai’s Reliance Industries.

That followed a row over its historical content, in states such as Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Members of hardline Hindu fringe groups as well as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had criticized the film “Padmavati”, accusing its director of distorting history by showing Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji as the “lover” of Queen Padmavati, belonging to the Rajput Hindu warrior clan.

“This was an unprecedented and tough situation,” Prasoon Joshi, chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), said in an email. “Am glad that following a balanced approach we resolved the task at hand in a pragmatic and positive manner.”

The board asked that the name of the film be changed to “Padmavat”, to reflect that the source material was an epic poem of the same name and not from actual historical events, Joshi said.

He added that the producers and director had been asked to run a disclaimer saying the movie does not “claim historical accuracy”, and that they were “completely in agreement” with the suggestions.

The film stars popular actress Deepika Padukone, who was the target of Rajput groups who were against its release. A BJP politician was ordered to apologize publicly by his party after he offered a reward for anyone who beheaded Padukone for her portrayal of Queen Padmavati.

Despite the suggested modifications by a special committee, a group that says it represents Rajputs vowed on Saturday to keep protesting against the movie.

“We had given a whole list of objections regarding the movie,” Ajit Singh, president of Rajput Karni Sena, told Reuters.

“The decision has been taken in haste and only a few cuts to the movie will not do justice to the history and legend of the person. We will continue our protests.”