Creative fraternity treated like hoodlums: Filmmakers back 'Padmavati'

In response to the ongoing controversy surrounding 'Padmavati', the Indian Film and TV Directors Association (IFTDA) held a press conference to extend support to the movie and its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

While addressing the media on the row, Ashoke Pandit, President of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association, said that the whole creative fraternity is hurt by these incidents and we don't deserve this kind of treatment.

He said, "The reason for this press conference is because we are hurt. We have been abused, we have been accused and we have been treated like hoodlums. We are film-makers, we are creative people and we don't deserve to be treated like that. Every now and then we see our directors getting heckled, films are not allowed to get released."

Adding, "All the organisations are here today, because we think it is important today to stand together and speak together that this is not what we are here for. And we don't deserve this kind of treatment. All the abuses, all the bad words that have been said for Bhansali are not only for him, but to all the people who are in the creative fraternity."

Reacting to the same, Sudhir Mishra, director of critically acclaimed movies like 'Traffic Signal' noted that he cannot understand why these extra-constitutional bodies are treating Bhansali like a hoodlum.

"The matter is absurd, nobody has seen the movie. Director, producer, who is one established person, has already said that I have not done what you are accusing me of. Then I do not understand why these extra-constitutional bodies are treating Bhansali like a petty hoodlum," noted Mishra.

He added, "Bhansali has been treated like someone who has no sense of responsibility, he has been treated like someone you can slap around."

The director also shared that they do have a constitutional body like Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), who will see the movie and pass the judgement of whether to pass it or not.

Mishra explained, "Bhansali will submit the movie to CBFC, a constitutional body who will pass the judgement. And we have someone like Prasoon Joshi, who is responsible and knows how to do work."

Adding, "This is an attack on freedom. The history is ours. You can disagree with me, write against me, but let the film release. You can stand 500 metres away from the theatres with banners, start a campaign against the movie, but you cannot stop the movie from being released."

The people sitting in the press conference made an announcement that on November 16 the film industry will get together in support of Sanjay Leela Bhansali outside the gate of Film City and on the same day, from 4 to 4.15, there will be no shooting held there.

The period drama, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, has been facing protests from various communal groups, including Shree Rajput Karni Sena, for allegedly tampering with historical facts.

The Karni Sena, which demolished the sets of the movie in Jaipur and also thrashed Bhansali, last month, again, warned the director that he would face consequences if the movie distorted historical facts.

The movie is slated to hit the theatres on December 1.