Press Release
In the days of yore, good women from Hindu society would not be found dancing in front of the people. On the flip side, these valiant women would not hesitate to pick up swords and make the Mughals dance on the battle field. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has distorted this historical fact, and shown Rani Padmavati dancing in his movie ‘Padmavati’s’ Ghoomar song sequence. A serial offender when it comes to distortion of history, he has also picturized Peshwe Bajirao’s wife Kashibai dancing in the movie ‘Bajirao-Mastani’. Shri. Ramesh Shinde, National Spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti said that the Hindu society will never tolerate this outrageous, insulting portrayal of valiant Hindu women.
Movie directors go to any lengths to distort history in a bid to produce masala movies which will mint them crores. The concepts of ‘artistic freedom’ and ‘freedom of expression cannot be applied to such directors. ‘Ghoomar’ is a dance art form from Rajasthan and is performed by people of a particular society. Bhansali worked on a historical movie, then why doesn’t he know that neither princesses nor queens would perform Ghoomar? Even other commercial movies bring in ‘item girls’ for special sequences involving politicians and thugs. So, if Bhansali wanted to showcase the Ghoomar art form, then he could have easily got someone else to perform it, why did he have to show Rani Padmavati? To show Rani Padmavati (who committed Jauhar [self immolation] to safeguard her honour) dancing is gross disrespect to her memory! Shri. Ramesh Shinde (National Spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti) said that Bhansali should tender a public apology to the Hindu society and also delete all fictional sequences where Rani Padmavati is shown dancing.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali respects women especially mothers, which is apparent from his name. So it is unfortunate that he does not sympathise with the sentiments of the Hindu society which views Rani Padmavati as a ‘mother’. Shri. Shinde further commented that it has become fashionable to fill up the box office by riding on controversies.
