NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined an urgent hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) plea which was seeking a ban on the movie Adipurush.
The case was up for hearing before the vacation bench of Justices Tara Vitasta Ganju and Amit Mahajan.
The Court said that it could not discern any urgency in the matter and that the plea will be further considered on June 30.
The petitioner is an organisation named Hindu Sena and the counsel appearing for it told the Bench that some controversial scenes are contained in the movie, which has even affected the relation of India with other countries.
The counsel said that the movie affects India's international relations and that even Nepal has banned the film.
But the Bench, in response, said that the release of the movie has already taken place and that the matter has no urgency, asking the counsel to come back on June 30.
The movie Adipurush features movie stars like Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon. It was released in theatres on June 16. Since its release, several people have objected to certain dialogues in the movie and the depiction of characters like Hanuman and Ravana, which are considered epic.
National President of Hindu Sena, Vishnu Gupta, has filed the PIL in question before the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the film.
The plea states that Hindu gods and characters like Lord Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Ravana have been depicted inaccurately and their description in the film is not consistent with what is described in the epic tome Ramayana.
Further, the petition said that characters like Ravana, played by Saif Ali Khan, has been depicted in a manner not consistent with ‘Indian civilisation’ and his bearded look is causing hurt to the sentiments of Hindu community.
It was pointed out that since these are mainly religious leaders or characters, the film makers or producers, as well as actors cannot be allowed ‘unimpeded creative liberty’ to commercialize them or their ‘faces, personalities and looks including hair.’
The petition cited this as a clear violation of religious rights under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
It was also argued that Hindus possess a particular view of Ram, Sita and Hanuman’s images and any change or tampering with these by the film’s producers, directors and actors would violate their fundament rights.
It was, therefore, pointed out that such feature films should not be allowed to be exhibited to the public until corrective measures are taken, the petition demanded.
The movie Adipurush has been criticized by several groups and individuals for certain dialogues and depiction of epic characters. All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the screening of Prabhas and Kriti Sanon-starrer 'Adipurush' directed by Om Raut, for 'Defaming image of Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman.’
Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna also lambasted the movie.
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