The Hindu Sena today (June 16) moved the Delhi high court and filed a PIL seeking directions for removal or correction of allegedly objectionable scenes involving characters such as Ram, Sita, Ravan and Hanuman in Adipurush.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) claims that the characters in the movie deviate from the portrayal of these religious figures in the epic ‘Ramayana’.
Filed by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, the PIL also challenges the certification granted to the film, and it names the director, producers and official parties as respondents. Gupta said that he would make amendments to the petition tomorrow (June 17) and ask for the cancellation of the CBFC certificate granted to the film and a complete ban on the film itself.
It is the petitioner’s case that the movie “offends the sentiments” of the Hindu community by presenting the religious characters in “an inaccurate and inappropriate manner” that goes against the descriptions found in the works of authors like Maharishi Valmiki and Saint Tulsidas. The petition argues that the portrayal of characters such as Ravan (played by Saif Ali Khan) and Hanuman in the film is completely divorced from Indian civilisation.
“The bearded look of Ravan’s character (played by Saif Ali Khan) in the film is hurting the sentiments of Hindu community as the Hindu Brahmin Ravan is shown making a ghastly face in a wrong manner, which is an absolute insult to Hindu civilisation, Hindu religious figures, idols, ideals, etc.,” the plea alleges.
The petition also claims that the “inaccurate” depiction of Hindu religious characters has garnered criticism and resentment from across the country, including from actors who have portrayed these characters in Ramanand Sagar’s TV serial Ramayana.
“The hair style, beard, moustache and dressing manner including appearances are well defined as per the image created in those epics. Any variation of these images by the film producers and director and actors would certainly hurt the sentiments of worshippers, devotees and religious believers,” the petition claims.
The film stars Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan in the leading roles of Ram, Sita and Ravan.