Bollywood movies ambushed by political and social ire

New Delhi, Feb 10: Finally Kamal Haasan's ‘Vishwaroopam' is breathing in an open air after being trapped by religious groups. But the damage is being done to the flick as the Box Office collection is much less than it was expected. It's not the first time that any flick like ‘Vishwaroopam' is mired in controversy. There are many other flicks which have become the victim of political and religious potshots. The political parties for their motives have always used the flicks containing religious and communal sentiments to gain more and more air. Let's have a look which movies before ‘Vishwaroopam' went through similar storms.Shanghai: The song in the flick titled ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai' was alleged of insulting the nation. A political group warned the Director and filed the petition in the court to delete the song or the flick will be banned. However, the court dismissed the plea as there was nothing objectionable in the song. Rockstar: More likely an anthem song “Sadda Haq” from Rockstar irked controversy for using Tibetan flag and for humming ‘free tibet' slogans in the track. The protestors threatened to carry Tibetan flags during its premieres at numerous screens. Aarakshan: Prakash Jha's ‘Aarakshan' is also in the list. Numerous caste groups criticised the flick because they were against the portrayal the Dalits as dirty and being considered only fit to polish the shoes. Black Friday: One of the most controversial flicks, Black Friday carried the gruesome 1993 blast but it hit the screens two years after its initial release date. Just before its original release, a petition was filed to stop the film's release, as it could have affected the public opinion and the court's decision about the blasts verdict, which was still pending. The film was applauded at numerous outdoor premieres. After deleting some scenes the flick finally released in India. Aandhi: Was the first flick in the Seventies which generated political controversy. In the film, the heroine dressed like the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, and the censors objected to it. The film showed the heroine Suchitra Sen acquiring Indira Gandhi's mannerisms, and even some theatres published ads about the movie with the line “See Indira Gandhi on screen”. This erupted protest from the ruling party and Suchitra Sen essaying Indira Gandhi's role added a line saying ‘I am a big fan of Indira Gandhi”. This bought an end to the entire negative buzz and the flick was passed by the govt.Bandit Queen: Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen took a satire on the Indian dacoit turned politician Phoolan Devi. Here Devi herself protested the release accusing it of being riddled with inaccuracies. The expletives used, the gory rape scene and the graphic nudity and brutality shown in the film were enough to stop its release. After cutting certain shorts the flick was re-released.Fanaa: It was the first time that Kajol and Aamir Khan paired up onscreen in Fanaa. The flick didn't have any controversial element but it was Aamir's association with people protesting against raising the heights of the Narmada dam in Gujarat that embroiled the film into controversy. Later, the state government stepped in and promised security to the theatres screening the film.Sins: The flick shows Catholic priest who gets romantically involved with a young woman. It was obvious for the Catholics to strongly protest against the film as they claimed that it portrayed their religion in a negative light. The film was released with an A certificate and was banned in some parts of the country.My Name is Khan: The flick having the SRK-Kajol-Karan trio, faced storm from the Shiv Sena, as one comment by Shah Rukh on the exclusion of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League was enough to provoke the party. Slogans were shouted, dummies were burnt, and posters-banners were pulled down from theatres. Shiv Sena threatened the theatres with dire consequences if they exhibited the film. It was only after the Maharashtra government offered full security to exhibitors that the film was released after being postponed for three days. Water: Deepa Mehta's ‘Water' dealt with the predicament Indian widows went through in the 1930s but some felt that the movie carried anti-Hindu sentiments and portrayed the Hindu culture negatively. Saffron activists stormed the sets of the film on the ghats along the river Ganga in Varanasi. It was impossible to shoot the film in India the cast and the crew had to go to Sri Lanka. Fire: It was the first time that a lesbian romance was being picturised in Hindi films. Deepa Mehta took the responsibility but it was way too bold and explosive over that period of time. The censor board allowed its release with an A certificate on the condition that the character's name be changed from Sita to Nita. But again few days later a political party disrupted the screening at theatres and vandalized the property.Jodha Akbar: This periodical flick by Ashutosh Gowarikar created one of the biggest controversy just before it's release as some religious and political parties accused the movie of distorting historical facts. The protesters objected to the portrayal of Jodha as Akbar's wife as they were of the view that Jodha was Akbar's daughter-in-law and not wife. The film was banned in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. However, it went on to become a box office success.Kabul Express: The govt of Afghanistan banned the movie, Kabul Express. Though, it was never officially released there. The protests followed over the film's racist portrayal of the Hazara nationality of Afghanistan. The Hazara people protested the flick as they were described, by an Afghan member of the crew and the "Pakistani Talib" as "worse than the Taliban", "bandits", "dangerous", and "savages".

Bollywood movies ambushed by political and social ire

New Delhi, Feb 10: Finally Kamal Haasan's ‘Vishwaroopam' is breathing in an open air after being trapped by religious groups. But the damage is being done to the flick as the Box Office collection is

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