NEW DELHI: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic drama Padmaavat has finally seenthe light of the day and has released in India. The cast of the film sharedpictures from the special screening of the film and while there were noextensive promotions or a premiere, the cast of the film has been low-keypromoting the film on social media. In any case, the hype surrounding thefilm was enough promotion in itself.
Pakistani viewers will also get a chance to view the magnum opus starringDeepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor asPadmaavat was clearedfor release in Pakistan on Wednesday, the censor board’s top officialannounced.
“Padmaavat has been declared fit for public exhibition in the cinema houseswithout any excision by Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC),” CBFCChairman Mobashir Hasan tweeted. The movie has been given ‘U’ certification.
According to distributors in Pakistan, there were apprehensions over themovie given the negative portrayal of the Muslim ruler, Alauddin Khilji.When asked about it, Hasan said, “CBFC isn’t biased in arts, creativity,and healthy entertainment.”
He also added that for the film’s certification, the CBFC co-optedProfessor Waqar Ali Shah, chairman of Department of History, Quaid-e-AzamUniversity as per rules. However, Hasan explained, “A co-opted member hasno voting rights. They are for expert opinion.”
Padmaavat is set for a worldwide release on Thursday.
Satish Reddy, chairman of a key film distributor in Pakistan saidthat Padmaavat should have a “very strong” response in its first week.
Meanwhile, the film has received mixed responses from critics. However, theacting and direction has received a lot of applause with many praisingRanveer Singh for his epic portrayal of Allauddin Khilji.
In response, Ranveer shared an emotional message on social media sayingthat he was “overwhelmed” and feels “immensely blessed” to be part of thefilm.
Deepika also thanked fans and friends on Twitter for appreciating her inthe movie and stated that “The Jauhar scene is by far my most special andchallenging moments as an actor!”
In India, the film-makers have had a long struggle in getting it totheatres as some Rajput outfits have been up against its release overalleged historical inaccuracies. Karni Sena activists have been stagingviolent protests across some parts of the country to stop the film’srelease. On Thursday morning, the activists attacked a school bus carryingchildren and staff as part of their protests. Luckily, no one was injured.
Similarly, a large number of police personnel along with paramilitaryforces have been deployed across Gujarat following a nationwide bandh(general strike) call by Karni Sena on Thursday. As a results of protests,multiplex owners in Gujray have refused to screen the film.
Originally titled Padmavati, the movie’s makers were asked to make fivemodifications – including title change, an addition of two disclaimers andsome alterations in a song before it got a U/A certificate.
With Deepika Padukone as brave Queen Padmavati, Ranveer Singh as menacingAlauddin Khilji and Shahid Kapoor as the proud king Maharawal Ratan Singh,the movie sets out to tell a tale of Rajput valour and sacrifice.
The film, replete with Bhansali’s trademark grandeur, is based on the16th-century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s famed poem Padmavat.