The Bombay High Court will today hear the plea against Abhishek Kapoor’s directorial ‘Kedarnath’, which is slated to hit the screens on December 7, 2018.
The petition, filed by lawyers Ramesh Chandra Mishra and Prabhakar Tripathi seeks a reassessment of the film by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on grounds that it hurts religious sentiments and promotes love-jihad. The petitioners in its complaint said, “The love story between a Hindu girl (played by Sara) and a Muslim boy (played by Sushant) will create a drastic situation and will promote love-jihad.”
It also stated that shooting a love scene at Kedarnath, which is considered an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, hurts the religious sentiments.
Demanding a ban on the film until the CBFC reassess it again, the petitioner claimed that the story of the film has maliciously diluted the real events of the 2013 floods that wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand. They added that the film will cause religious outrage upon its release and will lead to serious law and order situation in the country.
On the other hand, the lawyer for CBFC, who was present before the court, opposed the petition by terming it politically-motivated. “CBFC has assessed the movie as per set guidelines by following all procedures. This petition is politically motivated, ” the counsel for CBFC stated.
Starring Sushant Singh Rajput and debutante Sara Ali Khan in lead roles, ‘Kedarnath’ tells the inter-faith romance between a wealthy Hindu girl who takes a pilgrimage to the Kedarnath Temple in the Uttarakhand and a humble Muslim boy who becomes her guide.
As they grow closer, they face obstacles including familial disapproval and contrasting backgrounds. At the same time, the sudden rains of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods devastate the region, and the couple is forced to survive against the elements and test their love for each other.
The film had earlier ran into trouble and got delayed after the makers had a fallout with one of the production houses, KriArj Entertainment.
