The Supreme Court on Thursday has finally ruled all-India release of controversial movie Padmaavat on January 25. The court even stayed notifications and orders issued by Rajasthan and Gujarat prohibiting exhibition of the film in their states.
The film Padmaavat, which was earlier named Padmavati, has become a bone of contention between Rajput groups and the filmmakers. Even during the shoot of the film, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was attacked at the set in Rajasthan. The film stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.
Here’s the entire timeline of the controversy:
December 2016: Sanjay Leela Bhansali began preparing for his biggest film till date. Since a worker died on the sets of the film after falling from a stand, Bhansali had to stop shooting for a few days. Deepika Padukone took to Twitter to offer condolences.
shocked and saddened by the news…may his soul rest in peace and my most sincere condolences to his family…🙏
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) December 25, 2016
January 2017: Members of Karni Sena slapped and Bhansali after staging an angry protest at Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur where Bhansali was shooting for Padmavati. A Video went viral where protesters were seen running frantically, damaging cameras and other shooting equipment while raising slogans and spewing abuses in Hindi.
March 2017: Following a roadblock in Rajasthan, Bhansali moved his sets to Kolhapur in Maharashtra. Surprisingly, men armed with petrol bombs and swords attacked his film’s sets. After this incident, Bhansali opted for a truce with the protesting organisations. A letter was then surfaced on Twitter, where the filmmaker has clarified to the Rajput associations that there is no “romantic dream sequence or anything objectionable” between Rani Padmavati and Allauddin Khilji in the movie.
#SanjayLeelaBhansali clarification on #Padmavati @shahidkapoor @RanveerOfficial @deepikapadukone @ShobhaIyerSant pic.twitter.com/qHR6LXWf4q
— Raghuvendra Singh (@raghuvendras) March 27, 2017
April-August, 2017: Several B-Town celebrities came together in support of the film and freedom of expression. The film triggered a debate on the social media.
September 2017: Two posters of Padmaavati were released and both show Deepika wearing a red royal dress and heavy Rajasthani jewellery. This also incited another round of protests by the Karni Sena.
देवी स्थापना के शुभ अवसर पर मिलिए रानी पद्मावती से #Padmavati @FilmPadmavati pic.twitter.com/hYJonZCEEH
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) September 21, 2017
#Padmavati @FilmPadmavati pic.twitter.com/MenI9N7qFz
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) September 21, 2017
October 2017: A Surat-based artist named Karan made a ‘rangoli’ of Deepika Padukone, but some miscreants entered the place and ruined his work that took him more than 48 hours in making. Posting it on social media, Deepika Padukone condemned the attacks.
absolutely heart breaking to see the recent attack on artist Karan and his artwork!disgusting and appalling to say the least! pic.twitter.com/Ot2Aki0MiA
— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) October 18, 2017
The first week of November: Protest intensifies in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh claiming that Padmavati is distorting historical facts. Rajput Karni Sena called for bandh Chittorgarh. Schools and colleges remained closed.
The second week of November: Karni Sena began demanding a ban on the film claiming that the film distorts history and shows Rajputs in a poor light.
November 10: The Supreme Court rejected a plea demanding a ban on the release of Padmavati. The court ordered Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to examine all aspects before granting a certificate to it.
November 11: Home Minister of Rajasthan, Gulab Chand Kataria organized a panel to watch the film before granting a release in the state.
November 11: Health minister of Haryana Anil Vij said that the state government will approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to ask for a ban on Padmavati. The minister later implied that he would not allow the screening of the movie in the state.
November 15: The Shri Rajput Karni Sena demanded a ‘bandh’ on December 1, on the day when Padmavati was supposed to release. The Maharashtra government later provided security cover to Sanjay Leela Bhansali in view of the growing threats.
November 16, 2017: Karni Sena member Mahipal Singh Makrana issued a statement to ANI saying, “Rajput Karni Sena is fighting to protect the image of women being portrayed in the films. We never raise a hand on women but if need be, we will do to Deepika what Lakshman did to Shurpanakha for violating the rules and culture of India.”
November 12-25: Protests began erupting in many states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Bihar and Karnataka against Padmavati.
November 19, 2017: The makers then postponed the release of their film after CBFC gave back the application for certification citing a technicality. They didn’t announce the next release date.
Karni Sena vandalised Aakash Mall in Kota protesting Padmavati’s trailer being shown at the Cinema Hall #Rajasthan (NOTE: Strong language) pic.twitter.com/web5T0ewtC
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2017
December 22, 2017: The censor board requested the former Mewar royal family to join a panel to assist in certifying Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama Padmavati which incited anger for Rajput for allegedly portraying the queen in “poor light”.
December 28, 2017: The Censor Board sought after the judgment of two veteran historians from Jaipur on film Padmavati by inviting them to see the film. These historians include Professor B.L. Gupta and Prof R.S. Khangarot.
The committee then recommended five alterations. However, it advised the makers to modify the title of Padmavat.
January 14, 2018: The makers announced that Padmavati would be released on January 25, alongside Akshay Kumar starrer PadMan.
January 15, 2018: The makers issued full-page ads declaring that the film doesn’t have any objectionable scenes. The film was still banned by Rajasthan, Gujarat and MP. Meanwhile, the film’s name was changed to first Padmavat and then Padmaavat.
Big release For #Padmaavat on January 25. #SanjayLeelaBhansali & @Viacom18Movies issues a statement putting all rumours to end. Releases in 3D, IMAX3D, & will have Tamil & Telugu versions @deepikapadukone @shahidkapoor @RanveerOfficial pic.twitter.com/3m7ZETuGyy
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) January 15, 2018
January 16, 2018: The producers of Padmaavat moved to the Supreme Court citing the film being banned in four states following a clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite this, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana governments issued a band on the movie saying its release may pose law and order problems.
January 18, 2018: The Supreme Court issued a stay order on a ban on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat imposed by four states. The order thus ensured an all India release of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film on January 25. It all restrained other states from issuing such a notification.