16th June 2023, Mumbai: The highly anticipated release of Adipurush, a retelling of the epic Ramayana, has faced obstacles in Nepal as its publication was delayed by the Nepal Censor Board. The controversy stems from a single sentence in the movie that states, “Janaki is the daughter of India.” This statement sparked outrage among the mayor of Kathmandu, Balendra Shah, and residents of the valley, who demanded the removal of the contentious line from the film.
As a result of the public outcry, the morning showings of Adipurush were abruptly cancelled. Balendra Shah, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, took a further step by imposing a ban on Hindi film screenings in the capital. In a Facebook post, he declared that no Hindi films would be permitted to run in Nepal until the line, “Janaki is a daughter of India,” was eliminated not only in India but also in Nepal.
The makers of Adipurush received an order from the Nepal Censor Board, stating that the film would not be allowed to be released in the neighboring nation until the controversial line was deleted. Despite the distribution already being approved, security concerns prompted the cancellation of the morning performances. However, a recent report suggests that the movie can now be seen in Nepal on Friday, as the production team, UV Creations and T-Series, have removed the contentious phrase.
Directed by Om Raut, known for his work in the 2020 film Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, starring Ajay Devgn, Adipurush is a retelling of the historical epic Ramayana. The lead roles feature Prabhas as Raghav, inspired by Rama, and Kriti Sanon as Janaki, portraying Sita, with Saif Ali Khan playing Ravana.
Adipurush has been one of the most highly anticipated releases in India this year. It is available in five languages—Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada—and is presented in both 2D and 3D formats. The film garnered significant interest through advanced bookings and is expected to attract sizable audiences.
Initially, the first teaser for Adipurush was released on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, in Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s birthplace. However, the movie faced criticism at that time for its visual effects (VFX). To address these concerns and enhance the VFX, the film’s release date was shifted from January 2023 to June.
-by Kashvi Gala