The film Padmaavat finally released on January 25 amid an unprecedented spiral of violence in at least four northern States. There was tight security at malls screening the film. On January 24, a bus carrying schoolchildren in the Haryana township of Gurugram was attacked by a group led by members of the Karni Sena, which has been protesting against the release claiming it hurts Rajput honour. The Central Board of Film Certification cleared public viewing earlier this month changing the film’s name from Padmavati to Padmaavat after the 16th century eponymous epic poem.
People walk around the charred remains of parked motorcycles, burned during protests against “Padmaavat”, late on January 23, 2017 at the Himalaya Mall in Ahmedabad.
Gujarat and Rajasthan banned the film despite the CBFC clearance, citing the possibility of violence. The Supreme Court weighed in, lifting the ban and saying the States were responsible for maintaining law and order.
