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Hrithik Roshan

'Jodhaa Akbar' producers moves HC against MP govt order
24th Feb 2008 10.00 IST
By Agencies

UTV Motion Pictures, producers of the Hrithik Roshan - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer Jodhaa Akbar , Saturday said they have moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court to lift the ban on screening of the film in the state.

"We will take the matter to the Supreme Court if need be," a UTV official said in a statement.

The entire film industry, including producers, distributors and exhibitors are up in arms against the state government's order for suspension of the screening of the film, it said.

"In fact, the MP exhibitors association has threatened to go on an indefinite strike if this arbitrary ruling is not reversed," it added.

The authorities cannot let a small group of individuals dictate what is or is not acceptable for the consumption of the general public, the official said.

The official also said that the censor board has passed 'Jodhaa Akbar' without any cuts and the onus is now on the respective authorities to ensure the film is screened across the country without disruption.

"If we allow our creative freedom to be dictated by every potentially aggrieved party, then I am afraid we will not have as vibrant and creative industry in the future. We will fight till the end," the official said.

The film was banned in Madhya Pradesh on February 22 after demonstrations against it by the Rajput community. The film relates the tale of a Rajput princess converting to Islam to marry Mughal emperor Akbar.

Meanwhile, the Ashutosh Gowarikar – directed film was banned in Sonepat city and elsewhere in the district on Saturday after demonstrations against it by the workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at cinema theatres.

The district administration has suspended the screening of the movie in the district with immediate effect as protests at cinema halls have posed a threat to maintenance of peace, the Deputy Commissioner D P S Nagal said in his order.

According to the cinema managements, the DC and the SSP will watch the movie and decide the exhibition of movie after that. The workers of the NCP, however, announced that they will not allow the managements of the cinema houses to screen this film in future.

Earlier the Ambala district administration had banned the screening of the movie.

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