The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) may have decided to clear Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati after suggesting a change in title to Padmavat and some cuts, however, the panellists invited to review the film are still opposing the film's release. They have also warned of dire consequences if the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer is allowed to be released.
The censor board chief Prasoon Joshi, had earlier claimed that the special panel only played the advisory role and the final decision was taken by the CBFC committee.
Arvind Singh Mewar, member of the erstwhile royal family of Mewar and a member of the special panel, has claimed that the panellists had unanimously objected to the certification of the film and had expressed resentment to the film’s content. “We are not against movies based on history, but they need to be historically correct. There is an urgent need for a law that clearly demarcates the limits in the portrayal of historical characters,” he said while talking to the daily, Times of India.
He also said that the stand of the film doesn’t appear clear to him. “They are clearly not with the Rajputs or the Muslims, so who are they with? Where does their loyalty lie? What they want to show by making such a film is beyond my understanding,” he added.
Historian Chandramani Singh, who was also a part of the panel, has warned of dire consequences if the film is released. “I don't know how many cuts or modifications have been made. The panel was clearly against the release and the moviemakers and the board are well aware of the unrest taking place across the country. Despite all this, if they decide to go ahead with the release, they should be ready to face the consequences, which I cannot predict at this stage,” he said.
He also gave an example of his granddaughter with regards to the alleged historical distortions. “My three-year-old granddaughter too will watch the movie one day and tell me that, ‘Grandpa, queen Padmavati was like what was shown in the film and unlike how you narrate in your stories.’ How would I convince her then?” added Singh.