The Padmavati Controversy - Both unnecessary and avoidable

Right now in India, the raging topic on social media and on television is the controversy related to the Hindi film "Padmavati", made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, with reigning Bollywood queen Deepika Padukone essaying the eponymous role. 

Since the time Bhansali has started making the film, sundry Rajput groups have claimed to have been offended by the fact that their revered queen Padmini or Padmavati (who was devoted to her husband, and desired by the enemy - Alauddin Khilji), and who had committed jauhar or self immolation to avoid being captured by Khilji, was being belittled in the film. 

Somehow, it has gone into their heads, or perhaps been drilled, as part of a political agenda, that the maker was insulting their culture and bravery by making this film. They burnt down the sets, protested violently and created enough ruckus to make their displeasure felt. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the director had cast the real-life couple of Deepika and Ranvir Singh as Padmini and Khilji, which led to rumours that their was a love scene between them. How can this be even imagined, raged the protesters. It was sheer blasphemy.

Whatever the matter, things have now come to a head now that the film is ready for release. To add to the general discontent, a song featuring the revered queen dancing to the traditional ghoomar, has been released as pre-release publicity for the film. 

It is surprising that a seasoned film director like Bhansali chose to release the song first, knowing very well that Rajput queens never danced in front of the general pubic, whatever the occasion. Fine, he used cinematic liberty to depict the dance in the film, but to publicize it in this inflamed, raging atmosphere, is sheer suicide. Now he himself has had to defer the release the film in order to avoid a law and order breakdown. And this, when he actually intended to highlight the glory and bravery of the Rajputs in the film, far from belittling them in any way.

So what lessons do we learn from this totally unnecessary controversy?

One, that never mess up with the "glorious past" of Indians, a past that is romanticized and mythical to a large extent. Two, if you have to make a film on a historical subject, first announce your intentions loud and clear, and preferably take the approval of one or two local political or religious or socio-political groups. (These groups usually remain largely dormant, but once they smell controversy, they will come out with all sorts of pretense of being severely offended).

Three, restrict the urge to make millions out of minting a real-life relationship between the lead stars. If you do take a pair, take them as a couple, not as antagonists. Because even the slightest hint of a romance would mar the chances of a genuine attempt to portray a historical story in all its splendour. If the film is, at all, not released in Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, and the entire cow belt, how are your millions going to pour in? 

Finally to those screaming themselves hoarse over the imaginary insult to their historical pride....Why don't you do something constructive to restore that pride? If you cherish a dead queen so much, cherish your living women and stop female infanticide. Educate your women, give them their self-respect.

At the very least, don't make barbaric threats to the leading lady just because she has portrayed an honoured queen in a film. She is an accomplished actress, and an educated woman. Give her due respect. That is the real tradition of India.