Hindu activists want to view 'Padmavati' before Censor Board gives nod

The Censor Board of Film Certification must not certify Padmavati until filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali screens the movie for Hindu organisations and clears doubts about distortion of history, the  Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has demanded.

HJS  office bearers on Tuesday visited the Censor Board office and submitted a representation. "Some organisations have voiced objection to a few scenes on Queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji. Bhansali, in a video, has claimed there is nothing objectionable in the film. If that is true, the simple solution is to screen the film for representatives of Hindu organisations and clear their doubts," HJS spokesperson Satish Kochrekar said.

He pointed out that 'Ghumar' is a type of dance in vogue in Rajasthani culture and only a certain section of society performs this dance. "This dance was never performed by any queen or princess. This aspect should have been studied by Bhansali. Rather,  it is suspected that despite  knowing  this fact, Bhansali is taking such liberties with an eye on box-office," he charged.

To portray Queen Padmavati, who had committed 'Johar' (self-immolation) to protect her chastity, as dancing in   public hurts Hindu sentiment. Therefore, HJS demands that the song and dance be cut, he said.

"Such scenes would adversely impact impressionable minds of  children, who would only remember the dance of Queen Padmavati," he added.