Ram-Leela banned in Uttar Pradesh

Chief Standing Council of UP government IP Singh said,“The court has banned the movie in UP and has directed the state government to ensure compliance of the ban.”

Notices have been issued to film distributor Eros International and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali to file counter affidavit within four weeks and rejoinder within next two weeks.

According to petitioner’s counsel Rajieu Kumar Tripathi,the word “Ram-Leela” relates to Lord Ram and co-relates with thousand years of Indian civilization. He argued Ramleela is staged all over the country and in different parts of the world and it depicts the life and character of Lord Ram. Similarly,raasleela is an event that relates to the dance of Lord Krishna.

The petitioner’s counsel invited attention of the court that United Nations Educational Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recognised Ramleela as a cultural heritage of India which relates to re-enactment of the life of Lord Ram.

The petitioner’s counsel further referred a particular clause of the Guidelines for Certification of Films for Public Exhibition,which says visuals or words which promote communal,obscurantist,anti-scientific and anti-national attitudes are not to be presented. The Lucknow bench observed it was only concerned with use of word ��Ram-Leela” in the title of the film,which has hurt the sentiments of billions of people not only in India but all over the world.

“The meaning assigned to Ram-Leela and Rasleela in Encyclopaedia Britannica is a well researched meaning and prima facie no film-maker has the right to use the title,‘Ram Leela,Raas Leela or alike works which are used in Indian since ages for a particular purpose. Meaning assigned to a particular word by the people since thousand years of civilization cannot be given a different meaning by film makers. Obviously,use of film for a different purpose as a measure of cheap popularity or promotion is not permissible since it hurts sentiments of the people,” the bench said.

“As an interim measure,we direct the state of UP to stop display of film in the State of UP,titled ‘Goliyon ki Raasleela-Ram Leela’ forthwith. It shall be open for the respondents to display the film in the state of UP without using the title Ram-Leela and Raas Leela,” the court stated in the order.