JOIN USTwo big banner films, “Dilwale” and “Bajirao Mastani”, faced protests from activists of BJP and right-wing outfits in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi and Gujarat on the day of their release on Friday, with several theatres being forced to cancel screenings.
Scores of activists from outfits like Hindu Sena and Hindu Mitra Mandal were detained in connection with their protests for separate reasons. The protesters raised slogans against Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Dilwale’ in the backdrop of the actor’s comments last month that intolerance was rising in the country amid a raging debate on the issue.
Over the past fortnight, there were indications of protests and accordingly security was tightened in cinema halls and malls.
Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone-starrer “Bajirao Mastani” narrates the story of Maratha warrior Peshwa Bajirao I and his second wife Mastani. Several historians have raised questions about the film’s script, alleging that facts have been distorted. Big protests were witnessed in Pune, from where the Peshwas once ruled, and the neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad.
At least 200 workers of BJP youth wing protested at City Pride multiplex, following which the show had to be cancelled.
“The people of Maharashtra virtually worship the Peshwas so we cannot tolerate what is being depicted in this film,” said Jayant Bhave, pointing out that several depictions in the film were in “poor taste”.
It may be recalled that around 10 days ago, descendants of the Peshwa and Chhatrasal dynasty — to which Mastani belonged — held protests against promotional videos and songs of the movie.
Shows cancelled
In Mangla area, activists of the Patit Pawan Sanghatana, a radical Hindu outfit, barged into a theatre and tore up the posters of ‘Bajirao Mastani’. A couple of shows had to be cancelled. SRK’s ‘Dilwale’, too, faced protests by some radical groups. Maximum protests were seen in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Also, MNS Chitrapat Sena’s had appealed to the masses not to patronise ‘Dilwale’ saying the Shah Rukh Khan remained “unmoved” by farmers’ plight in Maharashtra while helping victims of Chennai floods. MNS chief Raj Thackeray, however, distanced himself from the controversy.