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Rediff.com  » Movies » Should Deshdrohi be banned?

Should Deshdrohi be banned?

November 13, 2008 10:46 IST
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B-grade film has suddenly become the talk of the town after the Maharashtra government banned it. In a sudden move on Wednesday, the state government banned Deshdrohi after it was deemed too provovative in light of the North Indian-MNS (Maharashtra Navnirma Sena) issue. The move came after a team of Mumbai police watched the film on November 8 and found out that it could potentially disturb the peace in the city of Mumbai.

The film starring Kamaal Khan (he is also the producer of the film), Gracy Singh, Kadar Khan, Aman Verma and Hrishitaa Bhatt touches upon the sensitive migrant issue. In the film Kamaal Khan's character is beaten up in public places for being a 'bhaiyya' (North Indian) and is told to leave Mumbai. He retaliates by saying that he is an Indian first and all the freedom fighters who fought for the country never thought whether they were North Indians or South Indians but only as Indians.

Though the film censor board had passed the film, the Mumbai police however felt that there could be a backlash from Raj Thackeray's MNS workers who are up against the North Indians.

The MNS supremo has been vocally stating that no more North Indians should come to Mumbai as they have taken the jobs of locals in many fields. He said that Mumbai cannot take any more influx from Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Commissioner, Hasan Gafoor in particular found the film objectionable, and had alerted the government about it.

The thing is, was it right for the Maharashtra government to ban Deshdrohi? Shouldn't it be left to the public to decide whether the film is objectionable or not?
Would it have really disturbed the law and order situation in Mumbai if it were released?

Please write in and tell us!

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