NEW DELHI: A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court for seeking cancellation of certificate of movie 'Adipurush' for hurting sentiments of Hindu community in the name of artistic representation and creative liberty.
The plea filed by 'Hindu Sena' through its national president Vishnu Gupta claimed that the depiction of Ravana, Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Hanuman in the feature film Adipurush is contrary to the image and descriptions of these religious leaders /characters/figures as depicted in Maharishi Valmiki's 'Ramayan' and Tulsidas' 'Ramcharitmanas'.
It sought a direction to the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification to cancel to cancel the film's certificate and immediately ban it.
The petitioner contended the government has to ensure maintenance of public order as well as secular fabric of the society.
Film director Om Raut and producer T Series cannot be permitted to publicly exhibit any such feature film which may tend to disturb public order and secular fabric of the society.
The plea claimed the character of Hindu Gods and religious leaders, and characters like Lord Ram, Mata Sita, Hanuman and Ravan have been depicted in an inaccurate and inappropriate manner.
"The bearded look of Ravanas character played by Saif Ali khan in the film is hurting the sentiments of Hindu community as the Hindu Brahmin Ravana is shown making a ghastly face in a wrong manner which is an absolute insult to Hindu civilization, Hindu religious figures, idols, ideals, etc. The scene related to Ravana in the film is an absolute distortion from the real facts and story of Ramayana. Since these are essentially religious leaders / characters, the film makers, producers, and actors cannot be permitted to take an unimpeded creative liberty to commercialize the religious leaders / characters, their faces, personalities and looks including hair. This is a sheer violation of religious rights under Article 25 of the Constitution of India," the plea said.
It also claimed image of Lord Ram, Sita, and Hanuman have been shown in an objectionable manner as it has been done to hurt Hindu sentiments.
"The Hindus have a particular view of the image of Lord Ram, Sita, & Hanuman and any change / tampering of their divine image by the film producers, directors and actors would be a violation of their fundamental rights. Any feature film which is based on wrong depiction of Hindu religious leaders / characters would be violative of Article 25 & 26 of the Constitution of India," the plea said.
"To foster religious harmony, integrity and social order, mutual respect of every religion is sine qua non. Therefore, the Indian Constitution has made every citizens religion part of fundamental rights. Therefore, the film producers, directors, and actors are under constitutional obligations to ensure that religious feelings, sentiments and perceptions are not tinkered with in any manner whatsoever," it said.
The plea asserted that the inaccurate portrayal of the image of Lord Ram, Sita, Hanuman and Ravan are hurting Hindu sentiments which may affect public order and integrity. Therefore, the feature film Adipurush is liable to be not issued any certificate in terms of Section 5A of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. It is not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition, the plea filed through advocate Pratibha Sinha claimed.
