While the whole nation is busy deciding (or at least trying to decide) Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati‘s fate (without watching it or checking historical facts), in another world, a movie depicting a Hindu-Muslim love story has offended the Central Board of Film Certification. According to reports, a movie titled- Game of Ayodhya, helmed by Sunil Singh, was banned by the Censor Board citing its sensitive topic – a love story between a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl set in the backdrop of the historic Babri mosque demolition.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had denied giving Game of Ayodhya a green signal saying,
Subject of the temple-mosque dispute was provocative, had defamed individuals, and had the potential to stoke communal passions.
Happy that the film is finally releasing, Sunil said,
I tried to tell the real story of the Babri Masjid demolition through the lens of a love story and how a journalist helps them. ‘Game of Ayodhya’ was earlier banned by the censor board, but eventually cleared by Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT). The FCAT bench later directed CBFC to issue a U/A certificate to our film.
However, overruling Censor Board’s decision, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) gave it a green signal and the film is ready to hit the theatres.
Sunil, while speaking about the film’s delay, said,
The delay did cost us, but we have left all that behind us and are all set to release our film all over India on November 24. We feel vindicated that our efforts have been rewarded. We will show many unknown facts.
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Giving a nod to the film, FCAT had said that,
The film is an attempt by the producer to present different perspectives. The producer has attempted by resorting to a flashback and a discussion representing clergy, research scholars, librarians and others knowledgeable about the history of Masjid Mandir dispute to represent various facets which may not be fully known based on their research and study.
The trailer of the film has some original speeches by political leaders like Lal Krishna Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kalyan Singh and others, before the mosque was demolished by a Hindu mob on December 6, 1992.
Check out the trailer of Game of Ayodhya here:
Keeping the controversial topic in mind, the Uttar Pradesh Police have also issued an alert over the upcoming release. While talking to a leading daily, a senior police official said the DGP has issued an alert to all district police chiefs to be watchful around the time when the movie hits the silver screen.
The officer said,
There is a view that the film could enrage passions after its release and hence we have to be watchful.
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The film was scheduled to hit the screens on November 8. The film features Makrand Deshpande in the lead.
Quotes- IANS, Hindustan Times
