Padmaavat Vs four states ban | Here's why Sanjay Leela Bhansali camp will play 'Aarakshan' card in the Supreme Court

Just a week to go before Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmaavat will hit theatres. This Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer even after getting a U/A certificate from Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been banned in four states. The makers have decided to move the Supreme Court against Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat government's decision to not release the film in their states.

According to Mid-Day report, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's lawyers will remind SC of the struggle of Prakash Jha's film Aarakshan in 2012. One of the Lawyers, Mahesh Aggarwal who will be representing Padmaavat in the court told Mumbai daily, "The ban is illegal. Once the movie has been certified by the CBFC, the state government has no power to issue a ban. A similar issue has been earlier settled by the Supreme Court in the case of Aarakshan. So we'll take that as an example in our argument." 

Back in 2011, Prakash Jha's film also faced similar protests. This Saif Ali Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone starrer faced opposition for the depiction of Dalit community in the film and was banned in several states after getting U/A certificate from CBFC. Makers had moved Supreme Court to get the ban lifted. 

The producers of Padmaavat has mentioned the four state ban before a bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday who then posted the matter for hearing the next day. The SC in November had rejected several petitions seeking a ban on the Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie that has been facing issues with its content since it commenced filming.

The yet-to-be released movie has already survived several calls for ban, as well as suggestions to cut five scenes and a change in the name of the movie by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The film which was slated for a December release but was pushed to January 25, now battles a ban from its release in at least four states — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

"Based on 16th-century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic poem Padmaavat, the movie faced resistance from its early stages due to a misinformation campaign and rumour-mongering. Despite these challenges, the film that showcases the valour of Rani Padmavati, Maharawal Ratan Singh and the famed Rajput ethos of honour, bravery and sacrifice, has managed to overcome all odds; aided by the support of well-wishers from across the film fraternity," Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production and Viacom 18 said in a joint statement.