Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan starrer mythological drama ‘Adipurush’ has hit the theatres today and the film is garnering mixed reactions. However, morning screenings of the film in Nepal were reportedly cancelled due to controversial dialogue on Sita. Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah has raised an objection regarding dialogue in the film where Sita is referred to as the 'daughter of India'. He has threatened to ban all Hindi films if this dialogue gets edited or removed.
Taking to his Twitter handle, the mayor tweeted, “Until the line ‘Janaki is a daughter of India’ contained in the South Indian film ‘Adipurush’ is removed not just in Nepal but also in India, no Hindi films will be allowed to run in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.” This uproar started after one of the scenes in the film says Goddess Sita is the daughter of Bharat, while the Ramayan claimed that she was the daughter of Raja Janak, the King of Janakpur, a city in Nepal.
दक्षिण भारतीय फिल्म ‘आदिपुरुष’मा समावेश ‘जानकी भारतीय छोरी हुन्’ भन्ने सब्द जबसम्म नेपालमा मात्र नभै भारतमा पनि सच्चिदैन तब सम्म काठमाडौ महानगर पालिका भित्र कुनै पनि हिन्दी फिल्म चल्न दिइने छैन ।
— Balen Shah (@ShahBalen) June 15, 2023
यो सच्याउन ३ दिनको समय दिइएको छ ।
माता सीताको जय होस । pic.twitter.com/4VwEhEgOki
On Friday, Adipurush was supposed to be screened in Neap but the film censor board denied the permission till the controversial line is removed. Reportedly, T-Series that bankrolled Adipurush, had complied with the demands, leading to the film being granted approval by Nepal's censor board. However, on the days of its release, it was reported that morning screenings of the film were being cancelled due to concerns related to law and order.
Meanwhile, Adipurush, directed by Om Raut stars Prabhas in the role of Lord Ram, while Kriti Sanon plays Janaki in the film. Saif Ali Khan portrays the antagonist Lankesh, the demon king of Lanka in the film.