"The film was not screened today. It is an extra-unconstitutional self-proclaimed ban by some fringe group. It is a kind of threat. Even the city Mayor is supporting the fringe group," the film's director Hansal Mehta told PTI.
"No disrespect has been shown to the city of Aligarh as alleged. On the contrary, teremendous has been shown for the city's culture. People objecting to the film have not seen it," the film's writer Apurva Asrani said.
The group strongly objected to the title Aligarh, stating that the film - based on Professor Ramchandra Siras who was suspended from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in 2010 after he was filmed having consensual sex with a man - sullied the reputation of the city.
Supporting the ban demand, Aligarh Mayor Shakuntala Bharti said, "We had issued a warning that we will not allow this film to be shown in the city at any cost. Ten days ago, we lodged our protest against the screening of the movie."
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District authorities said no ban has been imposed on the film, which released on Friday, but the threat against the screening and finding only few moviegoers on day one, appears to have forced theatre owners here to call off screening.
Actor Rajkummar Rao, who plays journalist Deepu Sebastian in the movie, said, "Those opposing the movie should watch it before coming to any conclusion. We are not maligning the city's name. Siras was very attached to the city and lived the last 30 years of his life in Aligarh. The film is not promoting homosexuality."
"Aligarh", starring Manoj Bajpayee, has received wide acclaim. It is based on the life of AMU professor Ramchandra Siras who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation. He later committed suicide.