No Quick Review Of Padmavati: Censor Board Turns Down Producers' Request

New Delhi: A day after the producers of "Padmavati" said they had indefinitely delayed the release of the film, the censor board has turned down their request to quickly review and certify the film, reports news agency ANI.

Padmavati's director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and lead star, Deepika Padukone, have both been given security by the government after multiple threats of violence for allegedly distorting history in the movie.

Among those who have issued threats is a BJP leader from Haryana, Suraj Pal, who yesterday announced 10 crores as a reward for the beheading of the director and Ms Padukone. He has been asked by his party today to explain his statement.

The movie, which was due release on December 1, has incited protests in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and other states by Rajput and other groups including the Karni Sena, which vandalized the film's sets and assaulted the director during a January shoot in Jaipur.
  The studio behind the movie, Viacom 18 - a joint venture between Viacom Inc and Network 18 owned by Reliance Industries - said on Sunday it had "voluntarily deferred the release date of the film." The film was sent back by the censor board last week for an allegedly incomplete application for review.

The film tells the story of Padmini, the queen of the Rajput warrior clan from Chittor in Rajasthan, who killed herself to prevent Mughal conqueror Alauddin Khilji from taking her captive after he killed her husband. Critics say the movie insinuates a romance between the two leaders, which Mr Bhansali has emphatically denied.

Rajasthan is governed by the BJP and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has written to the union government asking that the movie not be allowed to screen till scenes that have offended Rajput and other groups are deleted.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also warned the centre of possible law and order problems if the movie is released.