Protests against 'Padmavati' spreads to Kolkata

Protests against Bollywood film 'Padmavati' spread to Kolkata today with an organisation of the Rajput community burning pictures of its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and demanding "objectionable" scenes of the movie be deleted before release.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had yesterday sent back Bhansali's film, slated to be released on December 1, because the application for the certification was "incomplete".
The film, starring Deepika Padukone as Padmavati, Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, has triggered protests by Rajput groups in different parts of the country, especially in Rajasthan.
Protesters burnt pictures of the film's director at the Press Club in the city.

Rajesh Singh, president, Bharat Kshatriya Samaj, which organised the protest, told reporters that certain scenes involving Padmavati has "deeply hurt the Indian culture and the values of the Hindu population in the country".
"The scenes which are objectionable and harmful to Indian culture need to be deleted before release," he said

Singh said the government should form a committee comprising intellectuals, media persons, representatives of the Rajput community and experts to oversee the film's release.
To a question, he said, the protests have, so far, been peaceful. "But, if no corrective action is taken, we will take whatever action is required," Singh said

CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi slammed the makers of 'Padmavati' today for screening the movie for various TV channels without getting a censor certificate.
On the threat of physical harm to Padukone, a spokesman of the Brahman Samaj, which took part in the protest, said it has nothing against the actor, but the portrayal of the character.
"She (Padukone) is an actor might not be aware that the character portrayed in the trailer is a travesty of the real Padmavati. She is a professional actor and hence, we have nothing against her," he said.
Protests against the film continues to rock Rajasthan, agitations were also held in Patna and Bengaluru. The Mumbai police has tightened security for the actor and the film director.