Amid 'Phule' controversy, looking at films that faced a ban- From Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' to Salman Khan's 'Ek Tha Tiger'

Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa’s film Phule was all set for a theatrical release on April 11 but now the release has been postponed. Anand Dave, Brahmin Federation President, saw the trailer and alleged it promotes casteism.

The former state minister Chhagan Bhujbal had a meeting with director Anant Mahadevan and the producers to discuss the matter further. The film is based on the life of Mahatma Phule. Mahadevan said, ‘Cinematic liberty is taken in every film, each director takes only as much of the fact is shown in the film.’

But this is not the first time a film has been banned and surely not the last time. Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira Khan-starrer Raees was banned in Pakistan because of its portrayal of Muslims. When Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s _Ek Tha Tige_r was banned as well, director Kabir Khan expressed his disappointment.

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Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das’ Fire faced a massive backlash for its portrayal of queer love. Anurag Kashyap’s masterpiece Black Friday also faced a massive hurdle and roadblock that only ended after three staggering years as it was objected by the families of the 1993 Bombay Blasts victims.

On Phule

‘This is a Hindi film based on the life of Mahatma Phule. It seems that the director and the rest of the group have put in a lot of hard work, hence this film should be seen by all, Mahatma is a great work, not only in the country but it should reach all over the world,’ former minister Chhagan Bhujbal said.

Talking to News18, Mahadevan said, “We don’t get into a film with these kinds of doubts and fears in mind. When you’re talking about a fearless couple like Jyotiba and Savitribai, if you’re going to harbour those kinds of fear, then you don’t deserve to make the film.”

The director added, “What you can do is make it honestly, stick to the facts, research, don’t exaggerate and don’t make it look unrealistic in anyway because their lives have been so dramatic that you don’t even need to take any cinematic liberties. In fact, you’ve to underplay a lot of things because it’s so dramatic!”