'Ram-Leela' faces protest in several states

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's love story 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela', which released nationwide on Friday, faced protests in Indore, Rajkot, Jalandhar and the capital regarding its title and content.

Some members of an NGO held a protest in the capital outside a theatre over the Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh starrer film, demanding a change in its title. People raised slogans against the movie and the protests ended when police arrived on the scene and whisked away the demonstrators to the nearest police station.

Despite the film's title been changed, first from 'Ramleela' to 'Ram-Leela', and then to 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela', there is still controversy.

Bhansali, 50, on Thursday agreed to the demands of Kshatriya community in Rajkot by changing certain "provocative" words in his film. The words 'Jadeja' and 'Rabari' have been changed to 'Sanedo' and 'Rajri' as per the community's demand.

Bajrang Dal workers in Indore prevented the cinema hall owners here from exhibiting the movie because of its controversial content. The film hurt the religious sentiments of certain communities, they say.

The film also faced the ire of religious groups in Jalandhar after they stalled its screening in one of the multiplexes and burnt the posters. They asked the audience to evacuate the theatre as they are not happy with one of the songs in the film.