Any big-name Bollywood movie depicting historical figures has always come under intense scrutiny and controversy.
Akshay Kumar starer “Prithviraj” is no exception to this rule.
The movie “Prithviraj” is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language historical action drama film directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Yash Raj Films.
The film is based on Prithviraj Raso, a Braj language epic poem about the life of Prithviraj Chauhan, a king from the Chahamana dynasty.
The Movie is scheduled to be released on 3rd June.
What are the controversies around the movie? Will this have any effect on the release of the movie? Let’s find out in the article?
Prithviraj Poster
Credits:- The Indian Express
What are the controversies around the movie?
Karni Sena had started the older controversy.
The group wanted the name of the movie changed to “Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan”, as a form of respect to the Hindu king.
Karni Sena’s Surjeet Singh Rathod in an interview said to the press, “We have already warned the Rajasthan exhibitors about this. We will not allow the film to be shown in Rajasthan unless the title is changed to Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan.”
According to him, they have met Akshaye Widhani, the CEO of Yash Raj films and he has promised to make the necessary changes to the title.
Surjeet Singh Rathod
Credits:- Twitter
Karni Sena Logo
Credits:- Wikipedia
The latest controversy.
It has not even been 2 days since the controversy with Karni Sena.
A new group has woken up with their grievances.
According to E Times, Akhil Bharatiya Veer Gurjar Mahasabha has claimed that Prithviraj was a Gurjar, and as such, he should be portrayed in the film as a Gurjar rather than a Rajput.
This can be seen as an inter-organisational war between the Rajput dominant Karni Sena and Akhil Bharatiya Veer Gurjar Mahasabha dominated by Gujjars which might lead to caste skirmishes.
According to reports, the Mahasabha has also said that the film will not be released if Prithviraj is portrayed as a Rajput.
Manish Bhargava, the Rajasthan state president of the Mahasabha, met with the film’s producer last year and showed them ‘historic evidence’ to avoid factual errors.
Will this have any effect on the release of the movie?
Both the organisation involved in the controversy have threatened the makers with blanket boycotts and threats of not allowing the movie to be released In a state or the nation.
Will these threats materialise?
Only time will tell as Karni Sena also had tried this tactic during the release of Padmavat and it worked to some extent.
This is nothing new for Indian filmmakers, especially ones making period dramas about iconic Hindu Rulers.
It will depend on Yash Raj Production oh how they handle this issue.
While Akshay Kumar on Twitter urges to spread unity, his film is being used as a divisive force by various organisations within the country.
Akshay Kumar
Credits:- Hindustan Times
Credits:- The Outlook and Times of India
Featured Image Credits:- The Indian Express.
