Even as protests in Pune stalled the shows of Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone-starrer film, the Bombay High Court on Friday, refused to interfere with the release of the film Bajirao Mastani.
A division bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil, while hearing a petition filed in HC seeking a stay on the release of the film, said that the court saw no reason to intervene.
A Public Interest Litigation, filed by a Pune based social activist, had claimed that the film, particularly its song Pinga , distorted facts and history, and that it hurt public sentiments.
It claimed that while history documents Kashibai as suffering from “tuberculosis and arthritis that induced a limp, the song shows both, Kashibai and Mastani, performing a Lavani.
The petition, filed by Pune-based activist Hemant Patil, said the film is on the life and history of Peshwa King Bajirao and his wives Kashibai and Mastani. He objected to a song in the film ‘Pingaa’ and ‘Malhari’ saying it incorrectly portrays the characters of the Bajirao and his wives.
The film hit the screens today.
The petitioner alleged that Bajirao Peshwa and his wives never danced in their life time. He said the song ‘Pingaa’ is “offensive” to Marathi culture and degrading to a Maharashtrian lady. The filmmaker had twisted facts on the pretext of artistic licence, he said.
“The film is an insult to the glorious history of Bajirao Peshwa and a total misrepresentation of his personality. It is just and necessary to prevent such film- makers from imaginary and fictitious films on historical persons as it may hurt the sentiments of people,” Patil contended.
The petitioner had earlier filed a suit in a Pune court which dismissed it saying the plaintiff could approach the Censor Board with his grievances about releasing the film.
Earlier, Prasadrao Peshwe, the descendant of Bajirao Peshwa I, had also alleged that historical facts have been “altered” while portraying the late king and his wives in the film.
In a letter written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Prasadrao demanded that the government look into the matter, review the film, investigate the matter and take a decision accordingly.
( Source – PTI )
