Mumbai: Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar was provided with security cover on Monday by the State government in the wake of several protests he is facing over his next film Indu Sarkar .
The development comes after Mr. Bhandarkar had to cancel promotional events for Indu Sarkar in Pune and Nagpur fearing protests by Congress workers who had gathered to protest the film’s release without a green signal from senior party leaders.
According to sources close to the director, Mr. Bhandarkar has been given security cover, with two personnel by his side till the film is released. Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Rashmi Karandikar confirmed that protection has been provided to Mr. Bhandarkar by the Mumbai Police.
The Congress has objected to the film, set in the Emergency era, saying it may have portrayed Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi in a bad light. Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam demanded the film be screened for senior party leaders to allay concerns of defamatory references to the Gandhi family.
A press conference for the film’s promotion had to be cancelled in Nagpur on Sunday after Congress workers protested. A day earlier, a film-related event to the film in Pune too was cancelled after some Congress workers protested. Mr. Bhandarkar had earlier tweeted saying that his team was stranded “like hostages in the hotel room” in Pune.
On Sunday, he tweeted to Rahul Gandhi, “Dear @OfficeOfRG after Pune I have 2 cancel today’s PressCon at Nagpur. Do you approve this hooliganism? Can I have my Freedom of Expression?”
The film is scheduled for release on July 28.
