PIL in HC seeks ban on ‘Adipurush’, hearing next week

Jaipur: Amidst criticism over wrong portrayal of characters of epic Ramayana in the movie ‘Adipurush’, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ban on the film and its further screening on OTT platforms was filed in the high court on Friday. The PIL is likely to come up for hearing next week.
Petitioner Balmukundacharya has filed the PIL through his counsel Amitosh Pareek. In the litigation, secretary of the ministry of Information and Broadcasting, chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), chief secretary, government of Rajasthan and the film producer company Bhushan Kumar have been made parties.
Pareek talking about the litigation said that ‘Adipurush’ has violated the freedom of expression and has hurt the sentiments and faith of the Hindu community at large.
“Before the release of the movie, its writer Manoj Muntashir had said that the film is based on Hindu epic Ramayana but the screenplay, dialogues and scenes of film Adipurush movie do not match with Ramayana. Makers have made the mockery of the epic Ramayana,” Pareek said while quoting the PIL.
“Also the writer Muntashir in his interviews in the media has stated that Lord Hanuman Ji a revered god by Hindu community is not a god,” Pareek added.
In Ramayana, Shabari has been described as an example of social harmony, but in a scene of the movie, when Shabari meets Ram and Laxman, Lakshman shoots an arrow at her, which is a wrong message for the society. “Freedom of expression does not give complete freedom to anyone right to hurt the sentiments of any caste, creed or community and also Cinematography Act 1952 also says that the Censor Board should not issue a certificate for telecast of a film when it is affecting the morals of the general public. That's why ‘Adipurush’ movie should be banned across the state,” Pareek said while quoting the prayer in the PIL.