A day before the release of ‘Padmaavat’, protests against the film intensified across several states with members of several fringe outfits taking out rallies, blocking roads and damaging vehicles.

Earlier in the day, 48 people were arrested in Ahmedabad for indulging in violent acts over the film’s release. In fact, on Tuesday night, dissenting outfits unleashed violence and arson in parts of the city.

Mobs attacked shops, torched vehicles, and pelted stones. The destroyed property included at least 200 vehicles, including bikes and cars, that were either set ablaze or damaged.

Subsequently, theatre owners across Gujarat on Wednesday announced their intention to not give the film a screening till the matter was resolved, to ensure “the safety of customers as well as to save their property.”

In Mumbai, more than 35 supporters of Rajput Karni Sena, one of the groups opposed to the film’s release, were detained.

Police also arrested the Karni Sena’s Chittorgarh unit chief, after its spokesperson declared that over 1,900 women of the community were “ready” to commit “jauhar” or mass immolation.

In Gurugram, protesters torched a bus and pelted stones, while in Meerut, they threw stones at a mall.

#WATCH: Protesters torched bus and pelted stones in protest against #Padmaavat at Gurugrams' Sohna Road. #Haryana pic.twitter.com/B13t6l8XuI

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018

“Eight-10 masked men had come to pelt stones at PVS mall. Police is on the lookout for the men. We will provide security to the mall at the time of screening of the film,” ANI quoted Civil Lines circle officer Chakrapani Tripathi as saying about the situation in Meerut.

Later in the day, clubs and bars in Gurugram were ordered closed from 7pm in view of the disturbances. The closure is expected to continue till further orders are passed by the authorities, reported ANI.

Agitators also blocked the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

In Madhya Pradesh, nearly 200 protesters blocked National Highway 3, which links Agra with Mumbai, in Indore district and broke glass bottles on the road, PTI reported. Protesters also tried to stop vehicles.

Some 50 activists of the Karni Sena burnt an effigy of the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Indore-Depalpur road.

The Karni Sena also gave a call for a ‘janta curfew’ on January 25 – the day of the film’s release. This move is meant to prevent people from watching ‘Padmaavat’.

The group’s chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi said a ‘janta curfew’ on cinema halls would mean that the public will stop the film from being exhibited.

“We are adamant on our stand that this film should be banned. There should be a self-imposed curfew by people,” he said.

Kalvi claimed that leaders of the Shiv Sena had assured the Karni Sena of their support in Maharashtra, reported PTI.

Ticket counter of Indra Cinemas in Jammu has been vandalized, an eyewitness says protesters raised slogans against the movie #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/vCy5pGkaNc

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018

He also rejected as “rumours” reports that some members of his outfit had watched the film ahead of its release.
The Rajasthan government accepted the people’s right to protest, even as it asked that they remain within the “framework of law and order.”

“We have appealed to protesters that if they want to protest while being within framework of law and order, they can go ahead with it. As a matter of fact, there aren’t many cinema halls in Rajasthan who are ready to screen the film,” the state’s home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said.

Several fringe groups allege that ‘Padmaavat’ distorts history and shows the Rajput community in bad light.

Despite the censor board clearing the film for release, four states – Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana – had banned its screening. Their move was later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Shah Rukh Khan, after receiving the 24th Crystal Award in Davos at the World Economic Forum (WEF) for “his leadership in championing children’s and women’s rights in India”, said that he is happy to get recognition on a global platform for his “minuscule work”. “Extremely charged with the amazing opportunity I have had. This award is a recognition for the minuscule work that I did. I would like to do it with even more fervour. What is even more pleasant is that India is here in full power,” King Khan told media after receiving the Award.’

Ace film-maker and Shah Rukh’s close friend and confidante Karan Johar said that he is proud of the Badshah of Bollywood for receriving such an honour. “I am so excited as a film-maker and as a close friend of the family, and his director for so many years. I feel very proud that he is bestowed with this honorable award,” Karan Johar exclusively told ANI in Davos.

Shah Rukh Khan received the award for showing an exemplary commitment to uphold human dignity through his non-profitable Meer Foundation. Meer Foundation provides support to female victims of acid attacks and major burn injuries through medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training, rehabilitation and livelihood support.

The 52-year-old actor has also been responsible for creating specialised children’s hospital wards and has supported childcare centres with free boarding for children undergoing cancer treatment. “I am grateful to these brave women and children (of Meer Foundation) who I work with for all that they have done for me, to the World Economic Forum, and all of you present here today for recognising the heroism by conferring this award, and this reward upon me,” hesaid while accepting the award.

This is not a review of this year’s most awaited film. And why this year? “Padmaavat”, nee Padmavati, is perhaps the most anticipated film since Raj Kapoor’s Satyam Shivum Sunderam. The frenzy that has been incited by some fringe groups, the threats and abuses, the violence and the virulence have whipped up the nation’s appetite.

Methinks, the Sena doth protest too much.

Having had the privilege of being close to the project from its inception, I can say one thing in all certainty. “Padmaavat” is a proud majestic anthem to the valour and pride of the Rajput community. Every frame, every movement exudes a nationalist fervor, a sense of unbridled pride and joy though without a trace of arrogance in being Indian. It is likely to see a major success, perhaps even bigger than “Baahubali”.

I wonder what the fringe groups would have to say once the film is out. Will they apologise to the nation and to the community they purport to represent, for misleading them?

The film industry is a soft target for peripheral attention-seeking organisations. I had never heard of the Karni Sena till the “Padmaavat” protests started. Now we can’t hear the end of their bickering and abuses. I get a feeling they will continue to protest against the film even after it releases, so habituated have they become to the limelight in the past months.

How will they survive without the platform of television channels to scream invectives at Bhansali and the film industry?

Maybe they can find another hapless filmmaker to target? This will keep on happening as long as an emasculated entertainment industry too afraid to speak up; too self-absorbed to care about what happens to a fellow-filmmaker.

As a prominent director explained: “If it was Karan Johar, he would have ten colleagues sitting besides him holding his hand under siege. But Sanjay Bhansali has not made too many friends in the industry. He’s paying the price for it.”

One direct fall-out of the unsolicited troubles that “Padmaavat” faced was the fear of history that now grips the film industry. The makers of bio-pic on Jhansi ki Rani are running through their script constantly to ensure no faction is offended by any of the dialogues or situations.

Nonetheless, trouble may visit any film. Some group or the other may come forward to say Kangana Ranaut is not from Jhansi. How dare she play Jhansi Ki Rani? I am surprised nobody brought up the Rajput angle vis-a-vis Deepika Padukone. Or the Islamic card to deride the casting of the Punjabi Ranveer Singh. Never have we seen a society so abjectly divided on the basis of caste and religion.

Here’s the fallout on historicals in Bollywood: No one is going to make them anymore.

Says a filmmaker: “History and mythology are taboo, unless you’re making a “Baahubali”. Hats off to Aamir Khan for his determination to make “Mahabharat”. He can be pulled up for anything — from his wrong cultural identity to his lack of knowledge of the Epic. The best thing is to make a “Golmaal” or a “Judwaa” in this country. Anything deeper gets you into trouble. So, for now, goodbye history.”

Unless someone wants to make a film on the troubles that “Padmavaat” faced during its shooting and before its release. That would be one hysterical historical. It may become an even bigger hit than “Padmaavat”.