No 'Jodhaa Akbar' show in Rajasthan on Friday

Jaipur, Feb 14 (IANS) The much-awaited period film 'Jodhaa Akbar', facing protests from a section of Rajputs who allege the film distorts historical facts, will not be released in Rajasthan as theatre owners fear violence.

'The film will not be screened in Rajasthan on Friday,' R.K. Shara, member of the film city empowered committee and film distributor, told IANS Thursday.

The film directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar will be released across the country Friday.

The Rajasthan High Court Wednesday issued orders to the state government to ensure a trouble-free release of the film.

But the theatre owners in the capital were not willing to exhibit it, fearing demonstrations by the Rajput Sabha and the Rajput Karni Sena.

A Jaipur movie hall manager said theatre owners were monitoring developments and the film would be released only when the atmosphere was conducive.

'We are not ready to take a risk,' the manager said.

Karni Sena, a Rajput community organisation, which is spearheading a campaign against the release of this historical romance starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Ra, feels that Gowariker has distorted facts.

The activists have appealed all cinema hall owners not to screen the movie in the state.

'We would not allow the movie to be screened in the state,' said B.S. Rundal, general secretary of Karni Sena.

'We would not allow any one to distort the historical facts,' Ajit Singh Mamdoli, a Karni Sena activist, said.

The Rajput community is of the view that Gowariker is presenting Jodhabai as Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar's wife, which is incorrect.

According to them, Jodhabai was not the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber near Jaipur as shown in the film, but was the daughter of Motaraja Udai Singh of Marwar and was married to Akbar's son Salim alias Jehangir. And Mughal king Shahjahan was her son.

Narendra Singh Rajawat, head of the Rajput Sabha, said such distortion of historical facts had hurt the feelings of the Rajput community. A number of scenes for the film were shot in and around Jaipur.

Gowariker says he has consulted several eminent Mughal historians for the movie.