Rajasthan high court postpones Adipurush hearing for 2 weeks
The court postponed the hearing as a similar petition is pending before the Supreme Court.
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JAIPUR: The Rajasthan high court has postponed the hearing on the petition seeking a ban on the film Adipurush.
The court postponed the hearing as a similar petition is pending before the Supreme Court. The PIL, filed by Balmukundacharya of Hathoj Dham, alleges that Adipurush, which draws inspiration from the epic Ramayana, goes beyond its source material by featuring scenes that are not mentioned in the original text.
Advocate Amitosh Pareek, representing the petitioner, argued that the film has hurt the sentiments of Hindus and violated the freedom of speech and expression.
The petition demands the film’s ban and the cancellation of its certification. The petitioner argued that Adipurush is not only against public decency and morality but also portrays characters, including Mata Janaki and Ravana, in a manner that adversely affects their reputation.
The petition cites the Cinematography Act of 1952 and the Rules of 1983, which allow for the cancellation of a film’s certification even after its release if it violates public decency and morality. The Ministry of Information and Broadcast, the Censor Board, the Rajasthan government, and the film’s producers have been named as respondents in the petition.
The petitioner highlights that in the past, numerous films have been banned due to concerns over religious sentiments. The petition calls for heavy fines to be imposed on the board members who granted the film’s release certificate. AAG RP Singh, representing the state government, appeared in court on behalf of the government.
The objection raised in the petition extends beyond dialogues to include illustrations in the film. It argues that certain scenes and depictions within Adipurush are objectionable and will offend religious sentiments.
For example, the portrayal of Lakshman shooting arrows at Mata Shabari, which is not mentioned in the Ramayana, is deemed inappropriate. The petition also points out discrepancies such as Ravana being depicted with a glass in his hand, the portrayal of a bat instead of Pushpak Vimana, and the unmentioned interaction between Laxman, Lord Rama, and Hanuman.