While the censors (Central Board of Film Certification) have objected to dialogues in the soon-to-be-released biopic about Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, the party struck a defiant note, adding the late party chief was known to express himself sans any restrictions.
"The stance taken by the censors is a good one. Let them continue with it. Balasaheb had no censor... Balasaheb's speeches, writings and cartoons can never be subjected to the scissors of the censors. Not even this movie," said Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, who has penned the movie starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. It will be released on January 25 in Marathi and Hindi. Raut was speaking at the launch of the Hindi and Marathi trailers on Wednesday.
Incidentally, the Marathi trailer shown at the launch muted the first part of the slogan aimed at South Indians during the initial days of the Shiv Sena after it was launched in 1966.
"Who will decide what is true or false about Balasaheb? This a biopic about how Balasaheb lived and spoke. This is a true story and not fiction. Balasaheb's life was an open book. The censors will realise this. Understanding things that Balasaheb said take time, even 50 years. When Balasaheb spoke about the rights of the sons of the soil, he was opposed. These very parties and their chief minister (the Congress and Kamal Nath) are now talking about this and pushing for a law on these lines in Madhya Pradesh," said Raut.
"There is no question of banning it. This is about Thackeray. (On the contrary) Balasaheb banned many people," he added while responding to questions.
Raut also compared Thackeray with Nelson Mandela and added that these two leaders had stood up for their people and paid a price. The movie will also have a sequel. Speaking at the launch of the Hindi trailer, Raut hinted that many directors had shied away when told about the subject of the movie. It is finally being directed by MNS leader and former Sena student wing chief Abhijit Panse.
About objections to the depiction of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in the film, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said: "What has happened, has happened. If decisions are taken fast, then the fast decision on Babri was also right."
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