Delhi court recalls order on 'Ram-leela'

A Delhi court Wednesday recalled its order restraining Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and EROS International Media Limited from using the title "Ram-leela" for their yet-to-be-released film starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

The movie is scheduled to be released Nov 15.

Additional District Judge A.S. Jayachandra recalled Tuesday's order saying he committed a mistake by passing the decision as he was not informed by the counsel for plaintiffs that the Delhi High Court has already refused to ban the release of the movie.

Advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for Eros International Media Ltd, placed before the court the high court order which had earlier refused to ban the movie and imposed a cost of Rs.50,000 on an NGO which had moved the plea against the film.

Sibal also showed the judge the full title of the movie "Ram-leela: Goliyon Ki Rasleela".

The court's order Tuesday came on a suit filed by six petitioners, including Prabhu Samaj Dharmik Ram Leela Committee, saying the movie hurt religious sentiments of Hindus as it contains sex, violence and vulgarity.

The plea said the word "Ram Leela" is associated with Lord Rama and people will watch this movie with an expectation that it would be related to his life but the film will hurt their sentiments.

It also said the name of the movie should be changed as it has nothing to do with mythology and that it was misleading.

The title "Ram-leela", understood by Hindus as an enactment of the life and story of Lord Rama, was nowhere doing the same. On the contrary, the film was portraying sex, violence and vulgarity, which was deeply hurting religious sentiments and feelings of Hindus, the petitioners said.