Indore: Controversial film "Padmaavat", which
was not released in Madhya Pradesh last month due to security
reasons, is likely to hit the screens in the state this week.
Film distributors and theatre owners have agreed to
screen the film after the state government assured to provide
adequate security cover.
"We had sought security cover from the state government
for cinema halls and audiences for the screening of Padmaavat.
The officials concerned assured us to provide security cover
during the film's screening.
"Accordingly, Padmaavat might be screened on February 8
in Indore and elsewhere in the state," Central Circuit Cine
Association president Jaiprakash Chouksey said.
Theatre owners in Madhya Pradesh had last month decided
not to screen filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama
starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh
following large-scale protests and bandhs in several places.
"The cinema owners have sought security cover for the
release of the movie on February 8. We have made preparations
to provide security cover at the cinema halls for the release
of the movie," Indore range deputy inspector general (DIG) H
C Mishra told PTI.
Secretary of Bhopal Cinema Owners Association, Azizuddin,
said that within three hours of the release of the film in
Indore, it would be screened in the state capital.
Of the 361 cinema halls across Madhya Pradesh, owners
of 200 theatres are eagerly waiting to screen the movie, he
said.
On January 23, two days before the nationwide release
of "Padmaavat", the Supreme Court had refused to modify its
earlier order, which had cleared the decks for its screening.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had petitioned the apex court to
modify its order and stop the release of the movie.
Meanwhile, Rajput organisation Karni Sena, which had
spearheaded the protests against Padmaavat, today reaffirmed
its opposition to the screening of the film. The organisation
said it would stage peaceful protests against its release in
Madhya Pradesh.
"As the film has portrayed the history in a distorted
manner, we will continue to oppose," Raghu Parmar, state
in-charge of Karni Sena, said.
"We are going to stand outside cinema halls and request
the people not to watch the movie," he added.
The film is based on the 13th century battle between
Maharaja Ratan Singh of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of
Delhi.
PTI
