Bombay HC refuses to stay release of Manikarnika

Mumbai: The Bombay high court refused to stay release of the movie Manikarnika — The Queen of Jhansi. While refusing to give interim relief to petitioner, the court has directed filmmakers to file their affidavit within two weeks. The petitioner has alleged that the film portrays wrong history and image of Rani Lakshmi bai.

A division bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by advocate Vivek Tambe, who claims to be a fifth generation descendant of the family of Rani Lakshmibai, the queen of Jhansi. He had moved the high court earlier this week claiming that the Kangana Ranaut-starrer had got several historical facts wrong.

According to the petitioner, the film shows the birth year of the queen of Jhansi as 1828. However, her birth year was actually 1835, his plea said. It further claimed that there are certain scenes that shows the queen suffered a miscarriage, which is incorrect.

The film producers opposed the plea, saying historians provided the birth year and that there has been no scene in the movie showing a miscarriage. Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) counsel Advait Sethna told the court that its examining committee has given due consideration before certifying the movie.

“A disclaimer has also been included in the mo-vie saying certain elements have been dramatised and fictionalised and that it does not in-tend to hurt any person’s sentiments,” Mr Sethna said. The movie is slated for release on Friday.