"Title Hurts Sentiments Of Rajput Community": Karni Sena Moves Allahabad HC Seeking Ban On Release Of Movie 'Prithviraj'

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea has been moved in Allahabad High Court by Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena's National Vice President (women wing) to restrain the release of the movie 'Prithviraj' starring Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar.

The plea has been moved by Sangeeta Singh, National Vice President of (women wing) of Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena and practicing lawyer in Supreme Court alleging that the film has been titled as 'Prithviraj' in place of 'Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan' and thus, it passes a wrong message in society also hurts the religious sentiments and beliefs of Rajput Community.

The plea avers that by simply naming/titling the aforesaid movie as "Prithviraj" (in place of 'Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan') the respondents (Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi, Aditya Chopra, and M/S Yash Raj Films Private Limited) have not only shown disrespect towards the Great Indian Historical King but has also hurt the religious sentiments and belief of Hindus at large across the country.

The plea states that respondents have tried to defame, degrade the historical warrior Hindu king who had sacrificed his life for sake of the safety and security of the Hindustan.

Further, the plea also objects to the attire worn by the actress Manushi Chillar in the movie (playing the role of Queen Sanyogita) as the plea states thus:

"It is a matter of surprise and highly objectionable not sustainable in eye of law relates to the movie as shown actress Manushi Chillar who played the role of Queen Sanyogita, the Queen of great Hindu King Prithviraj Chauhan is shown dressed in lehnga and choli which reveals the midriff of actress Manushi Chillar as skin shown portrayed in the movie shows the disrespect to the sentiments and emotions to the followers and believers of history of great Hindu King Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan...In the teaser of the movie reveals the false presentation regarding abduction of the Queen Sanyogita by the Prithviraj for want of glamour and charm in order to promote the glamour and attract public at large by the respondents commercially approach and gain due to that disregarded and twisted the facts about the culture and practice of the Rajasthani Rajputs and has insulted the Queen Sanyogita identity as shown in history and well known to everyone of the society belongs to Rajput community and Rajasthan at large"

Significantly, on February 2, before the Bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Narendra Kumar Johari, the petitioner argued that alleging the preview of the movie that has been released recently, depicts king Prithviraj Chauhan in a degrading manner and which has hurt her sentiments as a Rajput.

Having heard the arguments of the petitioner, the Bench asked the central government as to whether the film 'Prithviraj' has been approved by the Central Board of Film Certification or not and listed the matter for hearing in the week commencing 21st February 2022.

Apart from the Central and State governments, the Censor Board, film's director Chandraprakash Dwivedi, producer Aditya Chopra and actor Akshay Kumar have been arrayed as respondent parties in the case.

The plea also states that several representations had been made to the State Government as well as to the Union government to stop the shooting of the film, however, no action had been taken by the authorities. 

Case title - Sangeeta Singh (Social Activist) v. Union Of India Through Secretary, Ministry Of Information And Broadcast And 6 Others

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