Sufi poet's village wants Bhansali to share profits

Lucknow: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat has landed in another trouble and, this time, it is not related to Rajput pride.

It is now the people of Jais, a town in Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh, who are demanding their pound of flesh — a portion of the film’s earnings.

Jais is the birthplace of Malik Mohd Jaisi, the Sufi poet who wrote the epic poem Padmavat on which Bhansali’s film is supposedly based.

“Since the film is based on Padmavat, Sanjay Leela Bhansali should announce a share of the profit for Jais so that the Jaisi Memorial can be renovated. This town has a school in the name of Jaisi, a research institute, a poorly maintained park and a lone wall that  remains from his 16th century house. If Bhansali gives the money, we can restore the lost glory of the place,” said Mohd Ashraf, a local resident.

The people of Jais say that if the film is truly based on Padmavat, there will be nothing objectionable in it. “Jaisi was a Sufi poet and believed in Hindu-Mulsim unity. His followers also belonged to both the community and his poems reflect his belief very strongly,” said R.K. Srivastava, an octogenarian.

The local people hope that the release of ‘Padmaavat’ will swing the spotlight on Jais and help the township regain its lost glory.