The dispute over the film 'Khalid Ka Shivaji', which has been mired in controversy over its historical context, has reached the High Court. Although the court refused to interfere with the decision to postpone the screening for now, it ordered the Censor Board to give a hearing to the petitioners and filmmakers before extending the postponement.
The film's director Raj Pritam More has challenged the stay on the release of 'Khalid Ka Shivaji' in the High Court. The petition claims that the notice was issued based on false complaints and the release of the film was suspended without hearing the parties.
The petition also said that this stay was given on the basis of public sentiment and vague claims. The above order was given to the CBFC when the matter was heard before a bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale. According to the order of suspension of the exhibition, the exhibition of the film will remain suspended for one month or until further orders.
Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had supported the decision to postpone the release of the film on August 20, claiming that the film made incorrect historical references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. So, the petitioners were heard before suspending the screening of the film. However, the CBFC assured the court that the petitioners would be heard while considering the further stay decision. The court then adjourned the stay on the petition.
Ever since the trailer of the film 'Khalid Ka Shivaji' was released, a controversy has erupted over the title of the film. How can Shivaji be Khalid's? This was a key point in these objections. Subsequently, in the dialogues heard in the trailer, it is informed that 35 percent of Shivaji Maharaj's army consisted of Muslim soldiers, and 11 of his bodyguards were Muslims.
The trailer also mentions that Shivaji Maharaj built a mosque on Raigad. Hindutva organizations objected to these three things and demanded a ban on the film as it was spreading wrong history.
Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had supported the decision to postpone the release of the film on August 20, claiming that the film made incorrect historical references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. So, the petitioners were heard before suspending the screening of the film. However, the CBFC assured the court that the petitioners would be heard while considering the further stay decision. The court then adjourned the stay on the petition.
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Following this demand, the screening of the film has been postponed. Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said that the destruction of history will not be tolerated while making a decision regarding this film. And to prevent the release of this film from creating law and order issues in the state, the state government itself wrote a letter to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, requesting it to cancel the censor certificate of the film and stop its release. The decision was implemented and the film's release was postponed. Regarding the historical context, the film's team has tried to present its side through a press release on social media. However, the stay on the release remains in place. Therefore, the film's team has approached the High Court.
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