Six major distortions in Ajay and Bobby's films! PM urged to stop screening of Bhagat Singh films

B P Singhal, ex-chairman of the Censor Board of Film Certification and the Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament, has appealed to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to intercede and stop the exhibition of films on Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The aim is to stop the desecration of the sacred image of one of the greatest patriots of India.

Two multi-starrers on the legendary martyr --- Tips Films' The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (starring Ajay Devgan) and 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed are to hit theatres Friday, June 7.

In a two-page letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Singhal said that he hoped the government would not be a mute spectator to the national sacrilege: "I am constrained to draw on your time to prevent the desecration of the sacred image of one of the greatest patriots of this country, Sardar Bhagat Singh. Somehow, I am unable to convince myself that the Government of India can be forced to be a mute spectator at this national sacrilege that is being committed (by some filmmakers)."

Singhal has pointed out six major distortions made in the films The Legend Of Bhagat Singh by Rajkumar Santoshi and 23rd March 1931 -- Shaheed by Guddu Dhanoa.

"He (Bhagat Singh) has been cast as a romantic hero in the film against Aishwarya Rai in one films and Amrita Rao in the other. He has been shown hero-like, singing (Mera rang de basanti chola) in Bollwood style and moving in a procession. The truth is Bhagat Singh throughout his life had struggled while remaining underground because any public exposure would have been promptly detected by the British who were out to hunt him down," Singhal points out.

He suggested that all the states where the film is likely to be released on June 7 issue orders under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code to prevent the screening of the two films. He noted that though the matter was pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Courts, they had not granted stay. He expressed apprehension that the incorrect depiction of Bhagat Singh's life could lead to violence in Northern States, particularly Punjab, where the legend was born.

"Immediate steps however need to be taken to empower the Government of India in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the Board of Film Certification to have clear cut veto powers to stop the exhibition of any film of any historical nature which contain unauthentic material leading to the distortion of history or the images of the heroes of this country. If necessary, this empowerment could be done initially by promulgating a suitable ordinance," he suggested.

Singhal has sent copies of the letter to the Union Home Minister L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj, Information and Broadcasting minister.

Photograph: Jewella C Miranda