In a strong worded letter, written on Saturday 30 December, to CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, Vishvaraj Singh, a member of the erstwhile royal family has questioned the cosmetic changes and cuts that have been proposed for the film.
Two historians and member of the erstwhile royal family of Mewar who attended a special screening of Padmavati held by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) have expressed disagreement with the sequence of events in the film made on the life of Padmini, the queen of Chittorgarh.
Those who attended the screening included historians Prof Kapil Kumar of IGNOU, New Delhi, Dr Chandramani Singh of Jaipur, and erstwhile royal of Mewar — descendants of Padmavati — Arvind Singh. There were four other persons including CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi at the screening held on the evening of December 28.
According to sources, the film was rejected by all three. Arvind Singh looked quite miffed after seeing the film. The source further added, "The copy shown did not have any love scene between Khilji and Padmavati, but one can clearly understand the point from where it has been chopped off. It shows Khilji in a bath tub fantasising with his eyes closed. Then there is a jump in the scene that shows him in a love situation with a slave and a curtain being drawn." He added, "The three experts conveyed their disagreement to Prasoon Joshi verbally."
Speaking to DNA, Prof Kumar confirmed the screening saying, "Yes I did see the movie. Arvind Singh Mewar and Dr Chandramani Singh were present."
He said, "I saw Padmavati with an open mind — as a historian, an audience, and as a person concerned about social harmony. I respect freedom of expression, creativity, but they are not be used to create a situation of disharmony in society."
"There is nothing like 'historical-fiction'. It is either history, or it is fiction. You cannot take characters and events from history and create a story around it. Today history is not what Persian historians tell you. It is a highly developed subject that uses local sources, including oral history and folklore. All these factors have to be taken into consideration before declaring anything as myth or imagination"
Meanwhile, all efforts to contact Arvind Singh were futile. Dr Chandramani was also unreachable.
Vishvaraj, erstwhile royal, questions the 'cosmetic changes'
In a strong worded letter, written on Saturday 30 December, to CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, Vishvaraj Singh, a member of the erstwhile royal family has questioned the cosmetic changes and cuts that have been proposed for the film. He writes that he has come to know about the cuts, and another royal member Arvind Singh being called for a screening through news reports. Vishvaraj said he was also called for a screening, but he had asked a few questions to Joshi. He alleged that the questions remained unanswered.
The 'royal' tussle -
Vishvaraj Singh is the son of Mahendra Singh, the elder son and thereby the natural successor to the title of erswhile king. However, Arvind Singh, his younger brother holds the title. There is conflict between the two and their supporters over this issue.
Prasoon Joshi first invited Vishvaraj to view Padmavati, then Arvind Singh was present at the screening. Vishvaraj Singh has alleged in his letter that Joshi discontinued communication with him and questioned the veracity of inviting Arvind Singh when the head of the family is is father or him, he has written in the letter
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Karni Sena rally")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}