Plea to remove Bajirao songs

Taking objection to two songs, ‘Pinga’ and ‘Malhari’ from the upcoming Bollywood film Bajirao Mastani, a social activist has requested the Bombay high court to stay its release until both songs are removed from the film.

According to petitioner Hemant Patil, the songs allegedly distorts facts and history and need to be censored before the movie is released. It also said in the petition that even Prasadrao Peshwe, descendant of Bajirao, had alleged that historical facts have been altered while portraying the late king and his wives in the film.

In a letter written to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mr Prasadrao demanded that the government look into the matter, review the soon-to-be-released film, and take a decision accordingly.

Mr Patil, the president of NGO ‘Bharat Against Corruption’, had earlier approached a civil court in Pune seeking a stay on the release of the film but his plea was rejected and hence he approached the high court.

The Pune court, while dismissing Patil’s complaint, said he could approach Central Board of Film Certification with his grievances about the film.

Mr Patil however, approached the high court praying for a stay on the movie’s release until the songs ‘Pinga’ and ‘Malhari’ are re-censored.

The petitioner has contended that the songs distort history relating to late king Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa and his family members. The movie, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Ranveer Singh as Bajirao, Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai and Deepika Padukone as Mastani, is slated for release on December 18.

It is also contended by Mr Patil that the movie is a “false and bogus representation of historic people like Bajirao, Kashibai and Mastani.” Kashibai and Mastani were wives of Bajirao.