Adipurush Row: Multiple PILs seek ban on movie for blasphemous depictions, derogatory language & modifying Ramayana

Since its release, the movie ‘Adipurush’ has courted controversy over its objectionable portrayal of characters based on various deities, including Bhagwan Ram, Mata Sita and Hanuman Ji. The movie, claimed to be based on Ramayana, is facing protests for the alleged use of derogatory language, inaccurate representation of characters, destroying fundamental values and modifying the basic structure of Ramayana.

The movie is facing multiple Public Interest Litigations (PIL) before the Supreme Court and various High Courts, seeking a ban on its exhibition, contending hurt to the religious sentiments of Hindus, public interest and a violation of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

Supreme Court

A PIL has been moved before the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the movie ‘Adipurush’ for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. The PIL contends that the movie has depicted various deities by “destroying their fundamental values and characters” and modifying the basic structure of Valmiki Ramayana. The petitioner also objected to the movie’s dialogues, contending that only ‘gully boys’ use such ‘derogatory language.’

The PIL prays for the revocation of the censor certificate granted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on the grounds that it violates the statutory provisions u/s 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

The petitioner said, “The sacred fundamental texts and manuscripts are the basic spiritual and physical tenets of a cultured and civilized society which a common man of such a society relies [on] and lives [by]. A man becomes an orphan like a fallen leave from the branch of a tree without his culture and traditions,” before outlining her specific contentions.

The PIL states, “The inspiration was taken from Valmiki Ramayana which was believed to have happened in Treta Yug in which the Rakshasas and Devas lived together on Earth and fought each other but still maintained the decorum of war and rivalry. Using derogatory words can never be an inspiration to anyone and such a distortion of such a great personality and deity like Lord Hanuman is blasphemy and this must be stopped.”

The petitioner argues that ‘Adipurush’ is a mockery of Valmiki Ramayana and is fuelled by interests in personal commercial gain. The petitioner contends that the movie has modified the core values of the deities. The petitioner said, “The whole story of the film has destroyed and modified every aspect of the core values of the characters, their language and each authentic event.”

The petitioner concluded, “The Indian Constitution gives us the fundamental right to freely profess and practice our religion and belief with full devotion. But feature film ‘Adipurush’ has created a dent on the values, principles and personality of our sacred deities and Gods by distorting every aspect of [their] fundamental values and principles and hence this feature film ‘Adipurush’ has hurt our sentiments.”

Allahabad High Court

On June 27, the Allahabad High Court slammed the makers of Adipurush for depicting religious characters, including Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman Ji, in an objectionable manner, asking why the tolerance of Hindus was being put to the test.

The court’s Division Bench, comprising Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Shree Prakash Singh, orally remarked that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) should have done something while granting certification to the movie. “The one who is gentle should be suppressed? Is it so? It is good that it is about a religion, the believers of which did not create any public order problem. We should be thankful,” the court said.

The court further remarked, “Agar hum log ispar bhi aankh band kar len kyonki yeh kaha jaata hai ki yeh dharm ke log bade sahishnu hain to kya uska test liya jayega? (If we close our eyes on this as well because it is said that people of this religion are very tolerant, so will it be put to a test?),” while hearing two PILs against the exhibition and dialogues of the movie.

The court further said that religious scriptures, towards which the people are sensitive, should not be touched or encroached upon. The court said, “The issue here (in the PIL pleas) is that the way the movie has been made, there are some scriptures which are exemplary and are worthy of worship. People recite Ramcharitmanas before leaving their homes.”

The court remarked that the movie depicted Bhagwan Ram, Mata Sita, Laxman Ji and Hanuman Ji were depicted in an objectionable manner as if they were nothing.

The court rapped the respondent’s contentions that the movie contained a disclaimer that it is not based on Ramayana. The court orally remarked, “Do the people who put the disclaimer consider the countrymen, and youth to be brainless? You show Lord Rama, Lord Laxman, Lord Hanuman, Ravana, Lanka and then say it is not Ramayana?”

Delhi High Court

On June 16, the Hindu Sena moved a PIL before the Delhi High Court, contending that the depiction of Bhagwan Ram, Mata Sita and Hanuman Ji is contrary to common beliefs. The PIL challenged the exhibition of the movie, arguing that the same is violative of Section 5A of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Notably, the Delhi High Court refused to advance the hearing of the PIL on June 21, and tentatively listed it for hearing on June 30.

“The Hindus have a particular view of the image of Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman and any change/tampering of their divine image by the film producers, directors and actors would be a violation of their fundamental rights,” the PIL averred.

It was submitted that the movie had depicted the ideals of Sanatan Dharma in a bad light and thus, are trying to defame the religious sentiments of Hindus. The PIL further submitted that Ramayana had well-defined the physical features of the characters, and a derogation of the same would hurt the religious sentiments of the devotees.

“The hairstyle, beard and dressing are well defined as per image created in epics. Any variation by film producers, directors and actors would certainly hurt the sentiments of worshipers, devotees and religious believers,” the plea said asking for ‘corrective measures’ to be taken by the film producers and directors.

“The bearded look of Ravana’s character played by Saif Ali Khan in the film is hurting the sentiments of Hindu community as the Hindu Brahmin Ravana is shown making a ghastly face in a wrong manner which is an absolute insult to Hindu civilisation, Hindu religious figures, idols, ideals, etc.,” the plea alleges.

“Distorted public exhibition of Hindu religious figures by film Adipurush is a clear cut violation of freedom of conscience and practice in as much as freedom to manage religious affairs as guaranteed under Article 26 which is also violated,” it said.

Punjab & Haryana High Court

A petition has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking a ban on the movie, contending that the objectionable dialogues used in the movie have caused hurt to the religious sentiments of a ‘large section of society.’

The plea prays to direct the State to initiate legal action against the movie’s makers. The plea further seeks that the revenue earned from the movie screenings in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh be used for the beautification of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, or to be donated to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education in Chandigarh.

The plea stated that the devotees were “shocked to see the deities being portrayed in a poor state and using foul language,” in the movie. The petitioner claims that the movie maligns the image of various deities due to the use of foul language and dialogues. “They cannot be allowed to go scot-free in the name of Freedom of Speech and Expression,” the plea stated.

Rajasthan High Court

A PIL filed before the Rajasthan High Court seeks a ban on the movie, contending that the movie distorts facts, hurts religious sentiments and mocks Hindu deities. The PIL alleges that the movie contains derogatory language, delivered by Hindu deities including Hanuman Ji and Laxman Ji. The PIL seeks a ban on further screening of the movie and prohibition of its exhibition over OTT platforms.

The PIL further averred that the movie destroyed historical facts connected with Ramayana. “The scenes of the movie are not only illusionary but also giving the wrong message of the younger generation of the country,” the PIL averred.

The PIL further submitted that Ravan was considered the greatest devotee of Bhagwan Shiva and the ablest warrior in the Ramayana, however, he has been “badly mocked by the respondents as per their whims.” The PIL submitted that the movie had been banned in certain parts of Nepal, owing to its depiction of Mata Sita and is also facing protests in various parts of the country.