‘Padmaavat’ to Release Across India, B-Town Reacts to SC Verdict

The apex court gave a green signal to the film’s release and stayed the notification by the states banning it.

Padmaavat had sparked a series of protests all across the country.

(Photo Altered by The Quint)

After being banned by states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana despite clearance from CBFC with an U/A certificate and modifications, the producers of the Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor-Ranveer Singh-starrer Padmaavat moved Supreme Court against the ban on Wednesday, 17 January. Supreme Court stayed the notification by the states banning Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film. The apex court gave a green signal to the film’s release on Thursday, 18 January.

Here’s a compilation of reactions from the Bollywood fraternity on SC’s verdict.

Ayushmann is one of the first Bollywood actors to have reacted to the Supreme Court verdict.

Former CBFC chief Nihalani said that the CBFC is a government body. Once the film gets the certificate it’s the responsibility of the state government to ensure the exhibition.

“The centre should come down on these BJP states which are banning the film despite CBFC clearing it,” said filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt.

“I don’t see why anyone should dispute the SC judgement... Clearly law and order is the responsibility of the state.”  

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal

While speaking to The Quint, he said that the Supreme Court in its wisdom has acted perfectly. “Padmaavat is a literary classic. Nobody who has disputed the film has seen it. Nobody can go against the Supreme Court,” Benegal opined.

“I welcome the SC decision on Padmavati. The film has been cleared by the CBFC. Of what value is it if the state cannot defend its own certificate? The filmmaker has been crying hoarse that there is nothing objectionable in the film. The CBFC has cleared it. I’m sure it will become a huge success and I wish it all the best. But there remains the unresolved matter of no action being taken on those who placed a bounty on Deepika’s head and publicly threatened to burn her alive in full view of the media. They are roaming free with impunity! Immediate action needs to be taken against these criminal elements so as to send out a clear signal to the country that the dignity of women is supreme and neither abusive language nor violent threats will go unpunished. The law of the land must apply with immediate effect so that a strong message is conveyed that the Government has zero tolerance for violence or a call to violence against any citizen of this country.”

Shabana Azmi

Producer Manish Mundra also stated his opinion on the Padmaavat state ban and attributed it to vote bank politics.

While speaking to The Quint, Ashoke Pandit reiterated that it’s a great judgment for the film industry. He equated the banning of the film of state governments to abusing the constitution. Now it’s the state government’s responsibility to protect the film-goer.

“If the government’s position is that they can’t take care of the law and order situation, then the government does not have the right to rule. We are artists and no government has the right to abuse us. We felt very humiliated when these state governments imposed a ban on the film. The Supreme Court has broken the ego of these political parties with this verdict.”

Ashoke Pandit

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar lauded the decision of the apex court.

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