Supreme Court rejects plea seeking quashing of CBFC clearance of 'Padmaavat'
New Delhi, Jan 19 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Friday, rejected a plea for an urgent hearing of a PIL, seeking a quashing of the certificate granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial film 'Padmaavat', media reports said.
The top court rejected the plea a day after it ordered several BJP-ruled states to lift their bans on 'Padmaavat', which is marred into controversy for an alleged distortion of history.
The Supreme Court's order paved the path for the release of 'Padmaavat' across the country.
Despite the clearance by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the ban was imposed by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat- all ruled by the BJP.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, also restrained all states from banning the Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor-starrer.
“Creative freedom, freedom of speech and expression can’t be guillotined... artistic freedom has to be protected,” the SC said.
The CJI said that even Bandit Queen passed the test of the court. "In Delhi High Court, I had also given a judgment on 'Dhobi Ghat'. I dismissed the petition to ban the movie by imposing a cost of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner," he said.
Several fringe groups, mostly Shri Rajput Karni Sena, has accused the film maker of distorting history and portraying Rani Padmini in poor light in the movie.
Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu even offered a bounty of Rs. 10 crore on the heads of Bhansali and Padukone.
The CBFC has announced that Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer film will be issued a U/A certificate.
The CBFC suggested the makers of the film to change the title to 'Padmavat'.
The film is expected to hit the big screens on Jan 25. Earlier it was slated to release on Dec 1, 2017.
Apart from Deepika, the film starres Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles.
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