Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Central Board of Film Certification chairperson Prasoon Joshi have been summoned by the parliamentary committee on information technology to present their views on the controversy surrounding the historical drama. Right-wing groups have accused Padmavati, which is based on the mythical pursuit of fourteenth-century leader Alauddin Khilji for Chittor queen Padmini, of distorting history.
The 30-member committee has also asked producers of the movie and officials of the information and broadcasting ministry for a briefing on Thursday, PTI reported. “The panel has asked Mr Bhansali and Mr Joshi to appear before it and present their views on the movie,” panel chairperson Anurag Thakur told PTI. “They can present their case before the panel. The members have also decided to call the producers of the movie.”
The censor board has not yet cleared Padmavati, which was supposed to have been released on December 1. The movie’s application was rejected by the censor board on the ground that it was incomplete. Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, Padmavati has been produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Bhansali Productions. Viacom18 Motion Pictures announced that the film had been “voluntarily deferred” following repeated attacks and threats against Bhansali and Paudkone.
The panel’s members include LK Advani, Paresh Rawal, Beni Prasad Verma, Hema Malini, Sachin Tendulkar, Harinder Singh Khalsa and Raj Babbar.