Gowarikar's 'Jodha Bai' could not be released in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Feb 15 (UNI) Ashutosh Gawariker's epic drama 'Jodha Akbar' centering around the romance between the 16th centry Mughal ruler Akbar and his fiery Rajput Princess 'wife' Jodhabai is being released nationwide today but the people of Rajasthan have to wait a little long longer to see the film till the protest over the alleged 'distortion' in history is being settled.

Kailash Sharma , manager of AA films which has got the distribution rights of the film in the state was non commital about the release date of the film in the state.

He told UNI that ''I am not in a position to comment on the date of the release in Rajasthan now'' even as film buffs have been calling up cinema halls booking for tickets for the film.

Meanwhile film director Ashutosh Gowarikar has issued a public notice published in local newspapers claiming that his picture is based on facts.

The advertisement has come when some section of the Rajasthani Rajput community has been protesting against the screening of the film saying that Gowarikar has twisted history by showing Jodha Bai as the wife of Akbar while in fact she was his daughter- in- law.

Gowarikar clarified quoting historians that the wife of Akbar was Jodha Bai, the daughter of King Bharmal of Amer and the Royals of Jaipur have verified it. Historians have given different names like Harkha, Heera Kanwar, Jiya Rani, Manmati, Shahi Bhai and Jodha bai to the princess.

He quoted that historian K L Khanna in his book 'Medieval India' has mentioned the name of Jodha Bai as the wife of Akbar , while another writer Munnilal on page number 104 of his book 'Akbar has also mentioned her in the same name.

Another historian Hari Shanker Sharma also describes Jodha Bai as Akbar's spouse. Shika Jain in her work 'Princely Terrain' , Rumen Goden in his work 'Gulbandan' and 'A Princess Dairy' by Subhadra Sen also substantiate the authenticity of the script, he claimed.

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