Padmavati: Blackout protest ‘Main Azaad Hoon’ planned in support of the film

Shri Rajput Karni Sena and several other organisations across the country have been opposing filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’, threatening them to stop its release. After various protests that were carried out against the film, the Indian Films and TV Directors’ Association (IFTDA), along with 20 other bodies of the film and television industry, is planning a blackout protest titled ‘Main Azaad Hoon’ in support of the film.

Confirming this plan of the blackout protest, filmmaker and social activist Ashoke Pandit of IFTDA has spoken about it to an agency saying, “We will keep showing our support for ‘Padmavati’ and SLB (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) because it is the basic right of a creative person to tell a story in his own way. Sanjay is a responsible filmmaker, and making a film on history is not something easy for him but a big responsibility. To express our solidarity (with the film), we are gathering on Sunday for a 15 minute blackout where all shooting units in Mumbai will put off lights and no shootings will take place.” (Also Read: Padmavati: WB CM Mamata Banerjee ready to make special arrangements for the film)

“We strongly protest against the non-institutional bodies who every now and then protest against movies and threaten actors and makers of films. We will keep condemning their actions in a democratic manner. We have faith in our Prime Minister… for justice to ‘Padmavati’,” added Pandit.

This blackout protest ‘Main Azaad Hoon’ will take place on November 26 at the main entrance of Film City studio.

Talking about the film, ‘Padmavati’ stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor playing the lead roles. It was originally supposed to release on December 1, but has been postponed for an indefinite period by the makers now.

Inputs from IANS

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.