Padmavati v/s The Karni Sena: But India's losing

My mornings are incomplete without news, maybe just like yours it is without the hot cup of tea. But these days, my mornings are disturbed. Each morning as I wake up, I dread reading another article, a news piece about the controversy regarding ‘Padmavati’; the ‘Padmavati’ row, as the media calls it. I love Bollywood, honestly do, but looking at the current conditions, I fear the future of Bollywood. And I’m both proud and afraid of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who has taken such a life-risk by making ‘Padmavati’ and promoting it.

India allows freedom of expression, they said. Then what happened to a filmmaker’s freedom of expression? Shouldn’t art have the right to express?

The controversies related to ‘Padmavati’ started out and we were used to it thanks to ‘Bajirao Mastani’ times. The sets were vandalized and Sanjay Leela Bhansali was bashed, once. We thought it was common with a Bhansali film, and then came the second attack. Now we were a little uneasy, and then came the third attack, right on the sets, which got us, the media people, on high alert. If a filmmaker’s safety isn’t guaranteed, how safe are you common men really?

But nothing stopped SLB. He had the film fraternity’s support, and he completed ‘Padmavati’ shooting. He was all set for a release on December 1 this year. But wait, where’s the drama? After the 3 attacks, that’s what you’d be wondering, right? So enters the Karni Sena. An infuriated one. Or so as it seems.

Anyhow, this time they did not only target SLB, but also the lead actress of the film Deepika Padukone. Now this is something beyond my understanding. She is just there to act in the film. Sure, she might have done her research, but she’s just doing her job by acting. How difficult is that to understand?
Last week, Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana threatened to cut off Deepika’s nose if the film releases. Why? Is her nose not pretty? We’ve loved it for 10 years down the line!

“Rajputs never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha,”

said Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana. Oh. And you want to cut her nose? Right.

This was followed by Haryana BJP’s Chief Media Coordinator Suraj Pal Amu offering Rs. 10 crores to anyone who beheads Deepika and Bhansali. Now their heads aren’t great for you, eh?

Then happened something that will burn your ears with anger. Yesterday, members of the Akhil Bhartiya Kshatriya Mahasabha (ABKM), announced a bounty of Rs. 1 crore for burning Deepika alive. Maybe just because burning her effigies wasn’t enough? But you’ll wanna be like “jauhar ki jwala hai, bahut kuch jalega. Rok sako to rok lo.”

What were these threats for in the first place? The Karni Sena believes that there’s a dream sequence between Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. Oh yes, they haven’t even watched the movie, because judging is easier, naah?

The minor problem here is that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has clarified, he has very clearly stated that there is absolutely NO dream sequence between Deepika and Ranveer. Are you’ll having certain dreams and giving everyone nightmares?

Deepika is married to a Rajput, played by Shahid Kapoor in the movie, and in no way has the movie shown anything between Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji yet. We can clearly see her love towards her Rajput husband. Go watch ‘Ek Dil Ek Jaan’ and get your doubts cleared, people.

Btw, I’m still lost as to why is Deepika Padukone being dragged into this. The story wasn’t really her idea, the execution call was the director’s. All she did was come and act according to what had been decided. Then why is she being pulled up? And sorry to say, but the matter has gone International and it isn’t really showing India in a good light, so maybe, rethink, Karni Sena? Um, do you think? Can I expect that? Just saying, since you could judge without watching a film…