Filmmaker Prakash Jha on Thursday said he had agreed to drop portions of his film Aarakshan, which were objected to by some political leaders.
“We have agreed to make minor changes following objections. There are certain dialogues and scenes that have been edited,” Jha told reporters in Mumbai.He was accompanied by RPI leader Ramdas Athavale, who had voiced his opposition to the film for its ‘anti-reservation’ tone.
“I am happy that you have taken this positively and withdrawn opposition to the film,” Jha told Athawale.Asked on the ban on the film in UP and Punjab, Jha said the reasons for the ban could be political.“When you make a film on social issue everyone has a point of view on it.In Punjab, nobody has even seen the film,” he said.
Apprehensions over the release of Jhas film Aarakshan, which is scheduled for release on Friday, had eased on Wednesday itself when OBC leader and PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal declared that the misunderstanding about the film had been cleared and the director had promised to cut a few objectionable dialogues and scenes.
Bhujbals announcement came after a special preview of the film at Eros theatre on Tuesday night and a meeting with other leaders on Wednesday.
“The promos of the film had created an impression that the film is against the reservation system,” Bhujbal said.
“But after watching the film, our misunderstanding was cleared. There are a couple of dialogues and scenes which we feel are objectionable, but Jha has assured us that he will remove them or modify them,” he added.
Bhujbals social outfit Akhil Bharatiya Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad and the RPI had opposed the film on the grounds that it was against the reservation system and will divide communities and instigate violence.
Activists of the RPI and the Parishad had torn posters and hoardings of the film in various parts of the city and the state.Both the organisations had demanded that their leaders be shown the film before release.