Shorgul , a film supposedly based on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, was released countrywide on Friday but wasn’t screened in most parts of western Uttar Pradesh, including Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Meerut.
Political opposition and threats from right-wing groups stalled the screening of the film despite assurances from the local administration of full security.
The film, featuring Jimmy Shergill and Ashutosh Rana in lead roles, is about a love affair between a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl that snowballs into a political issue leading to unrest and chaos, a plot allegedly similar to what happened in the run-up to the violence in Muzaffarnagar in 2013.
Shergill’s character is said to be modelled on controversial BJP lawmaker Sangeet Som, accused of inciting the riots. Mr. Som, currently out on bail, has been opposing the release of the film, claiming that it “defamed him.”
Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Som denied issuing threats to prevent the release of the film but said, “I had demanded that the movie be banned because it is a conspiracy to show me in a bad light. The film might offend people’s sentiments. I appreciate that the cinema owners of western U.P. have taken people’s emotions into account.”
Ajay Gupta, president of the Cinema Owners’ Association in Meerut, said Shorgul was not screened in the city because of the threats issued to cinema halls. “Of course there was a threat to movie halls. We do not want to name the groups but there are many fringe elements who have been threatening that cinema halls would be burnt if the owners decided to screen the movie. The matter has been politicised, so we decided not to screen the film,” Mr. Gupta said.
Despite opposition, the western U.P. administration has not banned the film. Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Dinesh Singh had told media security would be provided to cinema halls wanting to show the film.
