"Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram Leela" banned in Uttar Pradesh

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's latest flick "Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram Leela" was banned in Uttar Pradesh by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday.

A bench of Justice Ashok Pal Singh and Justice Devi Prasad Singh passed the ban order while hearing a petition filed by Maryada Purshottam Bhagwan Ramleela Samiti from Bahraich.

In their petition, the Samiti claimed that the film, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone and released on November 15, had controversial and objectionable dialogues and had sought the cancellation of the Censor Board certificate to the film.

The petitioners also pleaded that since the film also hurt the sentiments of the Hindus by its name and other things portrayed in the film, it should be banned from exhibition.

The union and state governments as well as the state chief secretary, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Eros International and Bhansali had been made parties in the petition.

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-goliyon-ki-raasleela-ram-leela-banned-in-uttar-pradesh-1922788

Controversy over 'Ram-Leela' most upsetting: Girish Karnad

Writer-director-actor Girish Karnad today slammed the controversy and protests surrounding Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Ram-Leela', saying it was "nonsensical".

"That is really most upsetting. It is impossible to be creative if some idiot gets up and says 'I am sad'. Judiciary should also have some sense. The decision is nonsensical," Karnad, who was in the city to deliver 26th Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial IFFCO Lecture, said.

Bhansali's film, which released today, is facing the ire of several groups for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

The film, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, has

been dragged to different courts over its title and content.

Some political groups today tried to stop the screening of the

movie in Delhi, Rajkot and Indore.

Bhansali was also forced to change certain words in the Gujarat-set film after some members of the Rajput community expressed displeasure.

MP High Court had yesterday asked that the words 'Ram-Leela' be removed from the film's title following a plea that its use had hurt religious sentiments.

Controversy over the film's title has seen the same being

changed, first from 'Ramleela' to 'Ram-Leela', and then to 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela'.

Delhi High Court recently recalled its restraining order against the film's release.

More: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/controversy-over--ramleela--most-upsetting-girish-karnad/1195661/

'Ram-leela': Delhi court recalls order on film

A Delhi court Wednesday recalled its order restraining Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and EROS International Media Limited from using the title ‘Ram-Leela’ for their yet-to-be-released film starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

The movie is scheduled to be released Nov 15.

Additional District Judge A.S. Jayachandra recalled Tuesday`s order saying he committed a mistake by passing the decision as he was not informed by the counsel for plaintiffs that the Delhi High Court has already refused to ban the release of the movie.

Advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for Eros International Media Ltd, placed before the court the high court order which had earlier refused to ban the movie and imposed a cost of Rs.50,000 on an NGO which had moved the plea against the film.

Sibal also showed the judge the full title of the movie "Ram-leela: Goliyon Ki Rasleela".

The court`s order Tuesday came on a suit filed by six petitioners, including Prabhu Samaj Dharmik Ram Leela Committee, saying the movie hurt religious sentiments of Hindus as it contains sex, violence and vulgarity.

The plea said the word ‘Ram Leela’ is associated with Lord Rama and people will watch this movie with an expectation that it would be related to his life but the film will hurt their sentiments.

It also said the name of the movie should be changed as it has nothing to do with mythology and that it was misleading.

The title ‘Ram-Leela’, understood by Hindus as an enactment of the life and story of Lord Rama, was nowhere doing the same. On the contrary, the film was portraying sex, violence and vulgarity, which was deeply hurting religious sentiments and feelings of Hindus, the petitioners said.

More: http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/movies/ram-leela-delhi-court-recalls-order-on-film_146337.html

Court restrains Sanjay Leela Bhansali from releasing 'Ram Leela'

A Delhi court on Tuesday restrained Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali from releasing his latest venture 'Ram Leela' starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone.

The court considered the plea that the movie, set for an all-India release on November 15, allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus as it contains sex, violence and vulgarity.

The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to ban the movie and also imposed a cost of Rs50,000 on an NGO which had moved the plea against the film.

Additional District Judge A S Jayachandra, in an ex-parte interim order, restrained Bhansali and Eros promoters from releasing the movie till further orders.

The court allowed the suit filed by six petitioners, including Prabhu Samaj Dharmik Ram Leela Committee, which said the word 'Ram Leela' is associated with Lord Rama and people will also watch this movie with an expectation that it would be related to his life but the film will hurt their sentiments.

The petition filed, through advocate S D Windlesh, said the name of the movie should be changed as it has nothing to do with the mythology and it is "misleading".

More: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-court-restrains-sanjay-leela-bhansali-from-releasing-ram-leela-1918151