Offbeat News : Bollywood’s upcoming film Param Sundari, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, has landed in controversy ahead of its release. While the film’s trailer received largely positive reactions from the public, a particular scene has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Christian community.
The Watchdog Foundation, a Christian rights organization, has taken strong objection to a scene depicting the lead actors flirting inside a church, calling it disrespectful and offensive to religious sentiments. The foundation has formally demanded the removal of the scene from the film and its promotional material. Letters have been sent to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Mumbai Police, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Maharashtra Government.
The organization warned of protests if the scene is not removed and urged authorities to register an FIR against the film’s producers, director, and lead actors for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Catholic community.
“The church is a sacred place of prayer,” the letter reads, “and filming objectionable or indecent scenes inside it amounts to desecration.” The group also questioned how the CBFC cleared such a scene in the first place.
Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, representing the Watchdog Foundation, stated that such actions could be subject to legal proceedings under the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes acts intended to hurt religious sentiments. He cited previous legal precedents including the Azhar Basha Tamboli vs. Ravi S. Gupta case and referenced similar controversies like Hum Do Hamare Baraah.
Pimenta emphasized that the matter touches upon the delicate balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs, highlighting the CBFC’s responsibility under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 to certify films with both artistic freedom and religious sensitivity in mind.
As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are now on the film’s producers and the CBFC to see whether any action will be taken before the film’s release.
