In line with many forums which have evinced interest in scrutinising the controversial film ‘Padmavati’, yet another Parliamentary panel has sought to figure out the high-voltage screen drama and interact with its director Sanjay leela Bhansali to give him an opportunity to present his side of the views on the issue.
The Parliamentary committee on IT has invited ‘Padmavati’ director Sanjay leela Bhansali to hear his views on the controversy over the film. The committee has also called officials of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Censor Board to discuss the film, which has been embroiled in a controversy over allegations that it distorts history. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday.
However, top officials said Bhansali is ‘shying away’ from making an appearance and is yet to confirm, sources said.
lat week, the matter was also taken up for consideration by the lok Sabha Committee on petitions after two BJP MPs, CP Joshi and Om Birla, from Rajasthan filed a plea before it regarding objectionable content in the movie.
When contacted Joshi, who is also a member of the panel, said that the movie should be shown to historians and the descendants of the erstwhile royal families, who trace their lineage to Padmavati, before its release.
“The panel has referred the matter to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the censor board. It has also asked them to submit a report before November 30,” senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshyari, who heads the panel, said.
As the director of the controversial film Bhansali has already put the film for pre-release screening for a select audience, including scribes, the political slugfest around the movie is continuing to snowball in the middle of Gujarat poll.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is yet to see and take a call on the release of the movie with or without its editing. CBFC head Prasoon Joshi had objected to pre-screening of the movie before the Board could assess the film.
Now as the controversy refuses to die down with Rajput community in Rajasthan apparently up in arms against the movie and its depiction of Padmavati, a Parliamentary panel also seeks to take its own view on the issue.