Pune/Mumbai: Even though Akhil Bharatiya Brahmin Mahasabha had asked for a ban on Sandeep Patil's Dashakriya, the film is releasing on its scheduled date. Confirming the news, Patil said that the film will release across the State. The socio political group had asked for a ban stating that the film has shown Brahmins in poor light and hence, doubts had been raised whether the producers and distributor will postpone the release of the film.
Patil said, “We are releasing the film on Friday. Dashakriya has received three National Awards (Best Marathi Film, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor) and 11 State Awards. The State government is with us. We haven't hurt anyone's sentiments, otherwise, the State government wouldn't have given us the awards in the first place. The Censor Board too has passed the film so there's no scope of hurting anyone's sentiments.”
He added that the group has been creating noise after watching the trailer. “We have invited them to watch the film and then take a stand. We had organised the premiere show in Mumbai on Thursday and had invited the group members. They first informed us that they would watch the film and then said they were not attending it.”
But the threats from the group has left city theatres in two minds. While some are going ahead with the screening of the film, others are waiting for producers and distributors to a give a go ahead. When ST checked online entertainment ticketing portals, it showed the film releasing at multiplexes across the city
A source from CityPride multiplex on Thursday confirmed that they will make an official announcement about the show timing on Friday morning. “We haven't taken a call yet. If we get police protection, only then, will we release the film. In the past too, socio-political groups have targeted us, so we are being a little cautious about the situation now,” he said.
Neerav Panchamia, VP, Operations, E-Square, said, “We are releasing the film. We will only ban the film if the producer and distributor inform us. We cannot decide the fate of a film going by what these groups demand.”
Patil said that they have approached the Home Ministry and the police to give necessary protection at the cinema halls screening it. “We met the concerned people from the ministry so that the screening goes smoothly.”
When ST got in touch with Govind Kulkarni, National President, Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasangh, he said, “We are not against the film. We want the makers to remove a single dialogue from the film. The dialogue demeans the Brahmin community. They have put the dialogue just for publicity. We have sent letters to every theatre across the State requesting them not to screen the film and many have accepted it. But now, we will wait till Friday and then take a call on our next course of action.”
Dashakriya is based on the novel of the same name by author Baba Bhand, which was published in 1994. The film stars Manoj Joshi and Dilip Prabhavalkar in pivotal roles.
