Padmavati director Sanjay leela Bhansali and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Chairman Prasoon Joshi on Thursday appeared before two different Parliament panels amid the controversy surrounding the movie which has been accused of distorting history by certain groups.
Reports trickling out from the panels’ deliberations said that Bhansali faced a barrage of questions from the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT), which asked him if the “selective” media screening of his film was aimed at influencing the CBFC.
Though film has not been screened officially, there has been a pre-screening of the movie for a select people, including journalists, a few weeks ago.
“Is selective media screening of the movie fair and ethicalIJ Was it an act to influence the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC),” they asked. The panel is headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur.
The panel members were reportedly divided on banning the movie by the States. While the BJP and Shiv Sena members backed the decision by some State Governments, some members opposed such move.
Sources said the members asked Bhansali, “How could you assume that the movie could be released on December 1 when you applied to the CBFC on November 11. As per the Cinematography Act, the CBFC may take 68 days before certifying a movieIJ”
Wondering if creating controversy was a new trend to sell the movie, the panel members pointed out that the media was giving free space due to the ongoing row and even social media had given the movie immense space. Some panel members said it seemed that Bhansali’s movies tend to target communities, thus triggering social tension.
Bhansali had earlier stated that there had not been any misrepresentation of history in his film and Rajput traditions were accorded high honour in the period film which purportedly relates to the 13th century rule of Allaudin Khiljee in Delhi and queen “Padmini” of Chittor in Rajasthan.
Prasoon Joshi, who is also scheduled to appear before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT (where Bhansali appeared on Thursday), told the lok Sabha Committee on Petitions that the Censor Board had only cleared the trailer and promos of the period film. The CBFC chief told the panel that he had not seen the film as yet.
Some panel members expressed their opposition to the trailer and said it should be banned along with the film, it is learnt.
When some members opposed to the film also asked how the film had reached the UK when it had not been approved here, the CBFC chief explained that it was an independent process.
According to procedure, a regional committee would review the film. If necessary, a Central committee would then take a view. A final decision would be taken after consulting experts.
The lok Sabha Committee on Petitions had sought a report from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Censor Board after CP Joshi and Om Birla, two BJP MPs from Rajasthan, filed a plea on “objectionable content” in the film before the panel.
The officials, sources said, were of the view that controversies are often created for commercial purposes though it was not clear in this case.
The panel had asked the officials for a report before November 30, senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, who heads the panel, had said earlier.
Eight members of the panel, including Koshiyari and the two petitioners, attended the meeting.
Sources said three members of the committee were against the film -- two from the BJP and one from the Shiv Sena. There were other members who spoke for freedom of expression.
leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar had been criticised in films earlier, one member is believed to have pointed out.
Various Rajput groups and political leaders have accused Bhansali of distorting history in the movie by using a romantic dream sequence between the Rajput queen Padmini and Sultan Khilji, a claim repeatedly denied by the filmmaker.