RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav on Thursday gave the 'go ahead' for the release of Prakash Jha's controversial film Gangaajal in Patna, bringing to an end the week-long logjam which followed a spate of violent protests over the naming of the villain allegedly after Chief Minister Rabri Devi's MLA brother.
"Lalooji has asked me to go ahead with the formal release of the film in Patna. The regular show of the film will begin from Friday," Jha told newsmen outside the Chief Minister's official residence after emerging from a meeting with the RJD leader.
Yadav, he said, was convinced with his argument that the villain named Sadhu Yadav had no likeness with the real life Sadhu Yadav, Rabri Devi's legislator brother. "I named the villain Sadhu Yadav after meeting a small time criminal with that name at Narkatiaganj jail in my native west Champaran district," he said.
Jha said Laloo Yadav would not be present for the special screening of the film scheduled this evening as he has an eye problem.
"I invited both Lalooji and Rabri Devi for the special screening and they told me they would definitely watch it later on," he said.
On being asked whether he had also invited Sadhu Yadav, whose supporters vandalised two cinema halls here last Friday when the movie was originally scheduled to be released, Jha said, "I have invited legislators, media persons, senior government officials and intellectuals to watch the movie. I have not personally spoken to Sadhu Yadav but would like him to see the film."
When contacted, Sadhu Yadav said that he was not going to the special screening today as he had watched the film on Wednesday on VCD in Kolkata.
"There is nothing objectionable in the film," he said.
"I think there was some misunderstanding and a communication gap. Everything is fine now and regular shows of the film will begin in Patna from Friday," he said.
Sadhu said he had asked his supporters not to disturb the screening of the film in the state capital.
RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav on Thursday gave the 'go ahead' for the release of Prakash Jha's controversial film Gangaajal in Patna, bringing to an end the week-long logjam which followed a spate of violent protests over the naming of the villain allegedly after Chief Minister Rabri Devi's MLA brother.