Indian film dialogue sparks Bollywood ban in Nepal cities

Culture 11:08 19.06.2023
Officials from two cities in Nepal have said they will not allow Bollywood films to be screened until an "objectionable" line is deleted from a new Indian movie.
 
Ednews informs via BBC that the makers of Adipurush say the film is inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana.
 
The Ramayana depicts the victory of Hindu god Ram over the demon king Ravana after the latter kidnaps his wife, Sita.
 
In the film, the main characters are called Raghav, Lankesh and Janaki.
 
The mayors of Kathmandu and Pokhara have criticised a line that calls Janaki "India's daughter".
 
Hindus in Nepal - about 80% of the country's population - believe that Sita was born in Janakpur, a city about 220km (136 miles) away from capital Kathmandu.
 
Balendra Shah, mayor of Kathmandu, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he had asked theatres in the city to stop screening all Bollywood films. He added that he had asked the makers of Adipurush to remove the dialogue.
 
"No Indian film will be allowed to be screened in the Kathmandu municipality area until this objectionable part is removed from the film," Mr Shah wrote.
 
Indian news agency ANI reported that Dhanraj Acharya, the mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, had also asked theatres to stop screening the movie.
 
The film's co-writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla said on Sunday that some dialogues would be re-written and inserted again into the movie as they had "hurt" viewers, but it's not clear if he was referring to people in India or Nepal.
 
"I wrote more than 4,000 lines of dialogue for Adipurush, but some sentiments were hurt by five lines," he said.
 
ANI also reported that the film's producer T-Series had written to Mr Shah, saying there was no intention "to cause any disharmony".
 
Adipurush, which stars Indian stars Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan, opened to negative reviews on Friday. Several Indian viewers criticised its visual effects as well as some dialogues that they said trivialised the characters of the much-revered epic.
 
Calls to ban the movie have been trending on social media since Friday, but T-Series tweeted on Saturday that the film had a "bumper opening".
 
Many opposition leaders also criticised the film, with some calling for a ban.
 
Bhupesh Baghel, chief minister of Chhattisgarh state, who is from the Congress party, called the language used in the film "indecent" and said the state would consider banning it.
 
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the film had crossed boundaries while making a film on Ram, who is referred to by believers as 'Maryada Purushottam' or the ideal man.
 
The makers of the film have thanked several leaders from the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in the credits of the film.
 
Reports say the film is one of the most expensive to be made in India and was released in more than 6,000 screens. It was simultaneously shot in Hindi and Telugu and dubbed in other Indian languages.
IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Members of the Public Council under ANAMA have visited the region
16:52 08.05.2025
The "Roots of Peace" organization will host the "Peace Walk"
16:49 08.05.2025
"Since 1948 SL Heads of State have ‘relayed’ on the Ethnic conflict"
15:32 08.05.2025
A conference on the topic "Heydar Aliyev-Independence and Glorious Victory" was held in Lachin
12:44 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan showcases tourism opportunities in Israel
12:39 08.05.2025
''Azerbaijan House'' opened in Lebanon
12:33 08.05.2025
Vietnam prioritizes strategic and political cooperation with Azerbaijan
12:27 08.05.2025
Opening of new Baku City Prosecutor's Office building held
12:23 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Morocco may organize mutual cultural days
12:15 08.05.2025
Sahiba Gafarova: Heydar Aliyev's personality is symbol of wisdom for every Azerbaijani
12:09 08.05.2025
Milli Majlis to adopt statement on Heydar Aliyev's 102nd birth anniversary
12:03 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan Confederation of Trade Unions organized an event
11:58 08.05.2025
The 102nd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was celebrated in Berlin
11:52 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended session at Antalya Diplomacy Forum
11:43 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan, Vietnam explore prospects for educational cooperation
11:37 08.05.2025
Petrovietnam aims to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan
11:32 08.05.2025
The heads of state of Azerbaijan and Vietnam made statements to the press
11:29 08.05.2025
Kamran Aliyev:' 'Heydar Aliyev had unparalleled role as founder of Azerbaijani statehood''
11:24 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Vietnamese discuss strategic partnership
11:21 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan ready for further coordination and cooperation with Syria
11:16 08.05.2025
Scientists have discovered a possible candidate for the ninth planet in the solar system
11:12 08.05.2025
Business Council to be established between Azerbaijan and Vietnam
11:08 08.05.2025
May 8 is World Thalassemia Day
11:03 08.05.2025
Special session of Milli Majlis dedicated to year of Constitution and sovereignty
10:59 08.05.2025
General Secretary of the Central Committee Of Vietnam visited the Alley of Martyrs
10:51 08.05.2025
General Secretary of the Central Committee of Vietnam visits the Old City
10:47 08.05.2025
Azerbaijan's position with China as a reliable partner is strengthening
10:43 08.05.2025
The Aztelekom flag was raised at the Heydar Aliyev Summit
10:39 08.05.2025
President: There are great prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Vietnam in the defense industry
10:34 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani and Iraqi FMs explore regional issues
10:25 08.05.2025
Joint Statement opens new chapter in the history of Vietnam-Azerbaijan relations
10:12 08.05.2025
Leaders of Azerbaijan and Vietnam viewed exhibition of Vietnamese paintings
10:09 08.05.2025
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister meets with Iraqi PM
10:02 08.05.2025
Rebuilding hope amid the landmines Thembisa Fakude writting...
13:45 07.05.2025
How TikTok and Instagram Became New Tools of Diplomacy?
12:44 07.05.2025
Students of one of Turkey's leading universities were informed about the legacy of the great Nizami Ganjavi
12:26 07.05.2025
Azerbaijani energy minister holds several meetings in Türkiye
12:21 07.05.2025
Azerbaijan-Iran bilateral cooperation agenda discussed in Baku
12:18 07.05.2025
Azerbaijan shows progress in banking regulatory reforms
12:17 07.05.2025
About 20 Azerbaijani citizens returned from Germany yesterday
12:13 07.05.2025
Hamısı