Hindu organisations demand ban on upcoming film ‘Maharaj’.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad protest against upcoming Film “Maharaj” for its alleged derogation on Hindu Dharma. 

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Pune | June 12, 2024:: The members of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), the frontal  wing of the Sanatan Sanstha (SS), gathered near the Shri Shivaji Maharaj statue in Kothrud, Pune to protest against the upcoming film ‘Maharaj’, which marks the acting debut of Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan. The group was against the portrayal of Jaideep Alhawat as a Hindu guru being depicted as a villain. Several like-minded pro-Hindutva organizations joined the protest to voice their demand to ban the film immediately, if not revised thoroughly.

In a press communique, Ramesh Sinde, the National Spokesperson of HJS, conveyed, “India is known as the land of sages and saints who have spread Indian culture, religion, knowledge, art, civilization, virtues, and devotion to Bhagavad Bhakti across the world, teaching society to live an ideal life. However, the film ‘Maharaj,’ produced by Yashraj Films and featuring actor Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan, has been accused of defaming these revered figures by portraying them as miscreants and gangsters.”

As per source, the film is set in 1862 when there were only three universities in India. The film’s official logline reads, “Rabindranath Tagore is a year old and the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 continues to fan the flames of independence. Against all odds, one man takes a courageous stand in a landmark legal battle, a true story that’s now come to light in Maharaj — more than 160 years later.”

Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer, was a pioneering advocate for women’s rights and social reform. A student at Elphinstone College in Mumbai and a protege of the scholar-leader Dadabhai Naoroji, he wrote on widow remarriage, stood up for the oppressed, and sowed the seeds of reform in society.

Netflix and Yash Raj Films showcase Karsandas Mulji’s acts of bravery in ‘Maharaj’, which debuts on June 14. Based on the libel case, the film introduces audiences to Junaid Khan in his acting debut. ‘Maharaj’ is slated to release on June 14 on Netflix.

But there is fume from the Hindu society that the Film allegedly depicted a saint of Vallabh Sect as a gangster and demoralised personality. Accordingly, the agitator Hindus demand a ban on the upcoming film ‘Maharaj”.

The HJS communique says, “Even earlier, Aamir Khan’s film ‘PK’ had shown derogatory scenes and offensive dialogues about Lord Shiva, depicting Hindu saints as gangsters. Now, his son is perpetuating this narrative in the movie ‘Maharaj’. By referencing an incident from British rule 150 years ago, the film creates a false image of Sadhus and the Vallabh Sampradaya. This film appears to be part of a nationwide conspiracy to defame saints and the Vallabh sect. If ‘Maharaj’ attempts to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by portraying sadhus and saints as miscreants and lustful people, and thereby disrupts law and order, Junaid Khan, Yash Raj Films, and Netflix will all be held responsible.”

Earlier, on June 3, the members of Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad, gathered outside Yash Raj Films in Mumbai to protest against the upcoming film ‘Maharaj’ and sent their post letters to the appropriate authorities including Netflix.

The letter written by Bajrang Dal says, “Seeing the poster of the film, it appears that the film depicts Hindu Dharma in a derogatory manner.  We have heard that in this film, Hindu deities like Lord Krishna are mocked and insulted. This is an attempt to tarnish the image of Hindu Dharma and cause social discord among Hindus.”

“It is our request to immediately stop the screening of this film and show it to the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad before its public release. We fully respect freedom of expression, but it should not mean continuous insult to Hindu Dharma and its deities. The Hindu society will not tolerate the insult of Dharma,” it added.

Bollywood controlled by ‘D’ Company got the legacy of abusing Sanatan Dharma and hurting the Hindu sentiments in order to  glorify the Christian and Islam in a designed manner. That tradition is being continued by BJP Government in the Centre for last ten years. RSS-BJP insider Prasoon Joshi, the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) Chairperson gives indulgence into such defamation of Sanatan Dhindu Dharma without any check.

Now, the Hindu protesters ask, whether Junaid Khan, Aamir Khan, Yash Raj Films, Malhotra P Siddharth and Netflix make a film about the sexual abuse of boys and girls by clerics in madrassas? Will they make a film about the abuse of children and women by Christian clerics in churches or church-run hostels? Or to dare to make a film on the personal life of Prophet Muhammad? Bollywood does not dare to address such subjects. Instead, Hindu saints and religious practices are easily targeted in an utter derogatory manner. Hindus, known for their tolerance, often find their religious sentiments trampled under the guise of ‘secularism.’

But significantly,  Hindus are now coming to the streets not to tolerate anymore if their faith and sentiments are hurt by any means.
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_Inputs from HJS & Bajrang Dal-Konkan Prant.