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Padmaavat: India tightens security as controversial film opens | Padmaavat: India tightens security as controversial film opens |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Security has been tightened in parts of India for the release of a Bollywood film which has generated months of violent protests. | |
Some schools are shut in a Delhi suburb following an attack on a school bus, and cinemas in several states say they will not screen the film. | |
Hardline Hindu groups allege Padmaavat is disrespectful of their culture because it depicts a romance between a Hindu queen and a Muslim king. | Hardline Hindu groups allege Padmaavat is disrespectful of their culture because it depicts a romance between a Hindu queen and a Muslim king. |
Its release was delayed for two months. | Its release was delayed for two months. |
Protesters have been burning vehicles and attacking cinemas, demanding the film not be released. | |
On Wednesday, footage of mobs attacking the school bus in Gurgaon near Delhi caused outrage. | |
No children were injured in the incident, but protesters burned other buses, and have also vandalised cinemas over the last few days. | No children were injured in the incident, but protesters burned other buses, and have also vandalised cinemas over the last few days. |
Many theatres across India have said that they will not screen the film, fearing further violence. | Many theatres across India have said that they will not screen the film, fearing further violence. |
The Supreme Court rejected a bid by four states which wanted the film banned for security reasons, saying it was their responsibility to ensure law and order. | The Supreme Court rejected a bid by four states which wanted the film banned for security reasons, saying it was their responsibility to ensure law and order. |
What is the dispute about? | What is the dispute about? |
Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh play the lead roles. | Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh play the lead roles. |
The film tells the story of 14th Century Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji's attack on a kingdom after he was smitten by the beauty of its queen, Padmavati, who belonged to the Hindu Rajput caste. | The film tells the story of 14th Century Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji's attack on a kingdom after he was smitten by the beauty of its queen, Padmavati, who belonged to the Hindu Rajput caste. |
Hindu groups and a Rajput caste organisation allege that the movie includes an intimate scene in which the Muslim king dreams of becoming intimate with the Hindu queen. | Hindu groups and a Rajput caste organisation allege that the movie includes an intimate scene in which the Muslim king dreams of becoming intimate with the Hindu queen. |
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has said the film does not feature such a "dream sequence" at all. | Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has said the film does not feature such a "dream sequence" at all. |
But rumours of such a scene were enough to enrage right-wing Hindu groups. | But rumours of such a scene were enough to enrage right-wing Hindu groups. |
Is the film historically accurate? | Is the film historically accurate? |
While Khilji is a historical figure, historians believe that Padmavati is fictional. | While Khilji is a historical figure, historians believe that Padmavati is fictional. |
The name of the queen, and the plot of the film, are believed to be based on an epic poem, Padmaavat, by 16th-Century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. | The name of the queen, and the plot of the film, are believed to be based on an epic poem, Padmaavat, by 16th-Century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. |
The poem extols the virtue of Padmavati who committed sati to protect her honour from Khilji who had killed her husband, the Rajput king, in a battle. | The poem extols the virtue of Padmavati who committed sati to protect her honour from Khilji who had killed her husband, the Rajput king, in a battle. |
Sati, the practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre, is believed to have originated some 700 years ago among the ruling class or Rajputs in India. | Sati, the practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre, is believed to have originated some 700 years ago among the ruling class or Rajputs in India. |
Women in the community burnt themselves after their men were defeated in battles to avoid being taken by the victors. But it came to be seen as a measure of wifely devotion in later years. | Women in the community burnt themselves after their men were defeated in battles to avoid being taken by the victors. But it came to be seen as a measure of wifely devotion in later years. |