MUMBAI, May 26: Bowing to pressure from Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal, celebrated painter M F Husain has tendered a written apology for ``hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus'' by depicting godess Sita in the nude in his painting titled Sita Rescued. ``My painting was done about 20 years back, and it was not at all painted to hurt or to disrespect the Hindu religious feelings.In 1960s, I painted more than 100 works on Ramayana in Hyderabad with faith and conviction and dignity. Any how, the sentiments and feelings of anybody is my prime concern not to hurt. For that from the core of my heart I sincerely apologise,'' the letter written to Gajanan Shirke of the Shiv Sena Chitrapat Shakha says.The painting, which was displayed in Delhi sometime back, had angered Hindu fundamentalist organisations. While a bunch of Bajrang Dal goons had ransacked Husain's Cuffe Parade residence, the Chitrapat Shakha had threatened to disrupt the shooting of Madhuri Dixit-starrer Gajgamaini which is being directed byHusain.Husain's letter says that the controversial painting was selected and displayed by an art critic in Delhi without his permission. The painting, the letter adds, was displayed along with the works of six other painters.The letter seems to have had the desired effect and the prickly Shiv Sena Chitrapat Shakha has accepted the apology. Shirke along with the president of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, Sultan Ahmed and Rakesh Nath, who is producing Gajgamini, have signed the copies of the letter released to the media as a mark of acceptance.``I told the Shakha that I didn't want Husain to do any paintings.I only wanted him to direct my film. I also told Husainsaheb that maybe he should write a letter to the Shakha. The letter, it seems, has completely changed the Sena's attitude to Husain and the film,'' says Rakesh Nath.Shirke, who till the other day was threatening to strip Husain in public, has changed his opinion of Husain. ``Husain came to meet us and when he says he regretsit, he must mean it. I met him and I think he is a good man,'' he says and adds that now the Sena has no objections to the film and will not interuppt the shooting which will begin sometime in June.
