Censorship – The Arts

The Marathi film Manache Shlok, directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Mrunmayee Deshpande, was released on Friday but has already run into opposition in parts of Pune. Shows at Abhiruchi Mall in Dhayari and a cinema in Kothrud were reportedly stopped after protests linked to objections over the film’s title and its alleged handling of a religious text.

Preliminary reports say activist Ujjwala Goud, described by local sources as being associated with a Hindu organisation, led protests that prompted the theatre managements to cancel screenings. Organisers of the protests have objected to the use of the title Manache Shlok — the name of a revered collection of spiritual verses composed by Samarth Ramdas Swami — arguing that employing the title for a commercial film amounts to disrespecting a sacred text.

The film’s choice of title had already generated controversy ahead of release. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has strongly condemned the movie, calling the use of the title a “marketisation” of faith and demanding the title be withdrawn.