Allahabad HC's Concerns over 'Adipurush' Certification: Sensitivities at Stake; Imagine a Documentary on 'Quran' with Inaccurate Facts & Consequences"

Allahabad HC's Concerns over 'Adipurush' Certification: Sensitivities at Stake; Imagine a Documentary on 'Quran' with Inaccurate Facts & Consequences"

On June 28, the Allahabad High Court resumed the hearing on two pleas challenging objectionable dialogues and scenes in the film Adipurush. The court had previously conducted an hour-long hearing on June 27.

During the hearing, the court expressed concern about the portrayal of religious characters in the movie. It emphasized that the depiction did not align with the way people imagine the characters from Ramayana. The court questioned, "Do we imagine our Gods to be dressed and depicted in such a manner as shown in the movie? Ramcharitmanas is a sacred text that people recite before leaving their homes, and you depict it in such a pathetic way?"

The court criticized the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for certifying the movie and called it a blunder. The court questioned the certification board and commented that certifying a film that portrays Ramayana in such a manner was a mistake. In response, the Deputy Solicitor General of India argued that the certification was approved by a board comprising sensible members. The court then stated that if the film depicted wrong things about the Quran in a documentary, severe consequences would follow, emphasizing that sacred texts should not be touched or portrayed negatively.

Acknowledging that the movie's depiction of religious characters may have offended people's sentiments, the court mentioned previous instances where Hindu deities were portrayed humorously in films. It expressed concern about the increasing incidents of such depictions and the negative impact they have on society.

The court assured that the judiciary belongs to all religions and clarified that the specific case relates to Ramayana, but it is not about favoring any particular religion. It added that if a short documentary depicting wrong things about the Quran were made, the consequences would be severe.

During the hearing, the court sought opinions from various individuals, and the feedback indicated that the film was intolerable, causing many viewers to leave it midway. The court remarked that those who hold respect for Lord Rama, Lord Laxman, and Maa Sita would find it difficult to watch such a movie.