Bajirao Mastani: Bombay HC okays release of film over petition seeking stay

Read: Review of ‘Bajirao Mastani’

A court in Pune had earlier dismissed his application seeking ban on the film’s release. Patil had claimed the film allegedly distorts history relating to late king Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa and his family members.

According to Patil’s petition, the movie is a “false and bogus representation of historic people like Bajirao, Kashibai and Mastani”. Kashibai and Mastani were wives of Bajirao.

“The filmmaker has tweaked facts under the pretext of artistic licence. There are various historic evidence as well as several letters from the descendants of Peshwas which prove misrepresentation in the name of creativity,” it alleges.

“The song ‘Pinga’,” it says “is offensive to Marathi culture.” The petition further says that it is a known fact that Kashibai was a handicap and suffering from asthma, and hence it is highly impossible that she danced with Mastani. “The said song is nothing but an obscene item song,” it asserts.

Appearing for the filmmaker, senior counsel Ravi Kadam, informed Justices Naresh Patil and S B Shukre that film had released today after CBFC had given its nod.

The Court asked the state government to file its say on the issue and posted the hearing for a later date.

Earlier, Prasadrao Peshwe, descendant of Bajirao, had also alleged that historical facts have been altered while portraying the late king and his wives in the film.