After death threats and bounty offers, this would seem like a small snip in comparison… but is it? Since morning, the news was doing the rounds that Padmavat (earlier titled Padmavati) will have a mind-numbing 300 cuts! However, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairperson Prasoon Joshi on Tuesday refuted a report that the "modifications" demanded by the censor board in the historical drama, has resulted in 300 cuts. "The makers have submitted the final film with agreed five modifications which have already been communicated and a U/A certificate has been given to the film. CBFC's process is complete and any further news about cuts is absolutely untrue. Let's refrain from utilizing CBFC's name unnecessarily," Joshi told a media agency.
Speaking about the much-discussed changes, the title will have to be changed to Padmavat, the name of the epic poem written in 1540 by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. The makers have been further instructed to remove all references to these places, nevermind that these regions play an important part in the period film’s historical nature.
Minus the mention of these places, a considerable amount of historical context will be wiped out and yes, it is bound to hamper the narrative leading to a strange sense of vagueness.
However, it is perhaps the only choice Sanjay Leela Bhansali and team have of ensuring their much beleaguered Rs.180-crore film keeps its new date with the box office on January 25. Viewers will find no mention of the land this alleged tale of honour and battle took place in but hopefully, this will keep the fringe elements happy that their ‘honour’ has been protected.
The Deepika-Shahid-Ranveer starrer had been earlier scheduled to release on December 1, 2017, but it landed into an ugly and growing controversy with a group named the Rajput Karni Sena raising objections to the portrayal of Queen Padmini (Deepika’s character) in the film. Matters worsened with various political and religious groups joining the protests objecting to the film’s content saying it tarnished the image of the Rajput culture.
The film was then additionally screened for a special bench which has suggested these changes.
As for now, the makers are racing to re-edit the film to ready it in time for its January 25 deadline, which came into news yesterday.
