‘Shorgul’ release stalled in India by political parties
Jimmy Sheirgill and Ashutosh Rana film is a look at religious riots in the country
The makers of Shorgul — a political drama starring Jimmy Sheirgill and Ashutosh Rana — have said that activists from the Shiv Sena and the AIMIM (All India Council of the Union of Muslims) party on Friday stalled the release of the movie.
After a lot of obstacles, the makers of the film were confirmed 790 screens across India and the film was released on Friday.
According to a statement issued by the film’s makers, Varanasi Cinema Manager IP Multiplex and IP Vijaya were threatened. Shiv Sena party workers put a stop on the film in Nanded city in Maharashtra, and the film is not being allowed to screen in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut due to issues created by AIMIM activists.
A Varanasi theatre manager was even sent to the police station, and the show was allowed to play only at 5pm in the Uttar Pradesh city, which comes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency.
Vyas Verma, one of the producers, said: “If we don’t garner support from cinema houses in smaller towns and districts, our box office collections will be adversely affected. Anyone who may have already seen the film will concur that the film is not controversial as it is made out to be. In spite of getting confirmations about the screens on Thursday night it seems like we are in for a tough fight once again.”
A 24 FPS Films Production, the film is based on intolerance. The makers say they want the film to inspire the audience to think about where humanity stands amidst the noise of religious, social, political and economic prejudice..
Also featuring Sanjay Suri, Narendra Jha, Hiten Tejwani, Eijaz Khan, Suha Gezen, Anirudh Dave and Deepraj Rana, Shorgul touches upon politically sensitive subjects such as the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, the 2002 Godhra train burning, and the 1992 Babri Masjid riots, apart from referencing bureaucratic misdeeds.
The film has been banned in Muzaffarnagar. Last month, a PIL filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Milan Som against the film was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench.
