Delhi court stays release of 'Ram-Leela'

A Delhi court Tuesday stayed the release of Bollywood movie "Ram-leela", starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

The movie is scheduled to be released Nov 15.

Additional District Judge A.S. Jayachandra, in an ex-parte interim order, restrained the movie's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Eros promoters from releasing the movie till further orders.

The court's order came on a suit filed by six petitioners, including Prabhu Samaj Dharmik Ram Leela Committee, saying the movie hurt the 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 also watch this movie with an expectation that it would be related to his life but the film will hurt their sentiments.

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

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

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had refused to ban the movie and also imposed a cost of Rs.50,000 on an NGO which had moved the plea against the film.