'Depicts Hindu Gods In Objectionable Manner, Cannot Manipulate Ramayana Under Garb Of Free Speech': Plea In Delhi Court Against 'Adipurush' Promo

A plea has been moved in a Delhi Court seeking a stay on the release of upcoming movie 'Adipurush' in its present form, alleging that the promo released by its producers has hurt religious sentiments of the Hindu community by depicting Hindu Gods, Lords Ram and Hanuman in an "inaccurate manner".

Filed by Advocate Raj Gaurav in the Tis Hazari Court, the plea seeks directions to the movie's producer and director to remove the alleged objectionable portions from the teaser from all social media platforms including YouTube and Facebook.

The suit seeks a decree for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from depicting "Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman and Ravana" in the way they have been depicted "in the objectionable promo/teaser" of the movie in question.

The movie is set to be released on January 12, 2023.

"That the act of defendants is against morality and decency and has the capacity to hurt the religious sentiments of majority of Hindus. The defendants in the garb of free speech and expression cannot manipulate the basic of epic Ramayana which is part of plaintiff's culture, civilization and spirituality and religion. The defendant cannot be allowed to play with the golden ithihas of India as a whole," the plea argues.

The plea adds that while the traditional image of Lord Ram is of a 'serene and calm person', he is depicted in the film's teaser as an "atrocious, revengeful and angry" person.

In one of the scenes instead of a sacred thread, he is shown to be wearing a leather strap and instead of khadam he is shown to be wearing modern boots or footwear made of leather like material, the plea states.

Furthermore, the plea argues that Lord Hanuman has also been shown in a different manner in the promo wearing a leather attire, instead of sacred thread (janew).

Alleging that Ravana's character played by actor Saif Ali Khan has been shown to be 'awfully cheap and appalling', the plea states that Ravana is believed to have been a staunch believer and worshipper of lord Shiva who always adorns a tilak on his forehead with a golden crown.

"It is submitted that the portrayal of Ravana in the promo teaser is so horrid that the sentiments of plaintiff is hurt, he being a brahmin himself, Even though Ravana has a villainous character in Ramayana even then he is to be treated with respect being a scholar of Vedas and a genuinely learned man," the plea argues.

It has thus been prayed that the promo must be banned and removed from the internet on an immediate basis considering the 'defamatory impact and enrage it would cause to Hindus'.

"That the defendants, if are not stopped from propagating hate towards Hindus with objectionable depiction of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman, might lead to much furor and uprising among the public at large and may also cause law and order situation in the country. Right now the objectionable teaser/ promo has caused huge protests across the country and TV debates are laden with this topic," the plea states.