'Jodha Akbar' banned in UP

Lucknow, Mar 1 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government today put a ban over the screening of Ashutosh Gowarikar's magnum opus 'Jodhaa Akbar' in the state.

''It has been done as a precautionary measure as the film was likely to disturb communal harmony in the state,'' Principal secreatry for Home department J N Chamber said.

The divisional commissioners, Inspectors General of Police, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police had been apprised about the ban, Secretary for Home Mahesh Kumar Gupta said.

'Jodhaa Akbar' had been in the throes of a controversy with the Rajput Karni Sena calling for a ban on the much awaited period film across the country for its distortion of history.

On February 15, Akhil Bharatiya Chatriya Mahasabha staged strident protests against the film in the Uttar Pradesh capital.

However, the agitation did not affect the exhibition of Jodhaa Akbar, which opened on 1,500 screens in 26 countries and attempts to look at an aspect of life of the Mughal King Akbar earlier not touched upon in history books.

The Rajput Karni Sena also threatened not to allow the screening of 'Jodhaa Akbar' across India, especially in theatres in Rajasthan.

They charged that 'Jodhaa Akbar' is an example of a film distorting historical facts under the garb of magnificent production values and elaborate sets. Showing Akbar and Jodhabai as husband-wife, when in reality she was the better half of Akbar's son Jahangir not only constitutes a careless tampering with history by the filmmaker Ashutosh Gowarikar, but also a gross violation of Indian traditions and social values.

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