The Gujarat High Court ordered on Wednesday to see the film ‘Maharaj’ to assess if it offends the religious emotions of the Pustimargi sect. It is set to be released on Netflix. Justice Sangeeta Vishen stated that if the court determines that there was nothing in the video that damaged religious emotions, the matter will be closed. “You are only concerned if the movie is hurting the religious feelings of a particular sect or not,” the court said senior lawyer Mihir Joshi, who represented the petitioners.
The film, starring Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, is based on a landmark libel case filed in 1862 by a prominent Vaishnavite figure, Jadunathji, against journalist and social reformer Karsandas Mulji, who had written against sexual exploitation by the all-powerful Maharaj. Mulji’s exposé of the exploitative practice in his magazine The Satyaprakash sparked a libel suit that became known as the Maharaj Libel Case. On June 13, the Supreme Court halted Netflix’s release of the film, prompting the streaming giant and producer Yash Raj Films to seek redress.
The petitioners, including the Pustimargi sect, sought orders against the film’s release on the assumption that it portrayed the Vaishnav sect in a negative light, was likely to “incite feelings of hatred and violence” against the sect, and may “hurt public sentiments at large with its reportedly controversial depiction of certain characters and practices”. The bench, which began hearing detailed arguments in the case on Tuesday, accepted the production house’s offer to play the film for the court on Wednesday and requested that the other stakeholders to achieve an agreement on this issue.
An hour later, veteran lawyer Mihir Joshi, who represented the petitioners, said he was on board. “The court may review the movie to determine if it is defamatory. We have no commercial interests against Netflix or Yash Raj Films.” Please watch it. If the film does not disparage our religion, allow it to be screened in public. Joshi stated, “We don’t want to stretch the matter at all.”
Shalin Mehta, who represented Yash Raj Films, stated that the production house intended to continue the matter on the maintainability of the petition regardless of the outcome of the screening, pointing out that his client was losing money for each day that the film was delayed in being released.
The bench, on the other hand, dismissed the argument, stating that the filmmakers received approval from the Central Board of Film Certification in May 2023. “There were no rules or laws that prevented the film from being released. But you had to wait until June 14th. So one day here or there may not have a big impact,” she explained.
Mehta attempted to reassure the petitioners that the video covered the trial rather than the judgement. In response to allegations that Supreme Court of Bombay judges made blasphemous remarks against Lord Krishna and devotional songs in 1862, the film does not read any lines from the judgement, except that the case was dismissed after 32 witnesses were examined.
“PRIME LEGAL is a full-service law firm that has won a National Award and has more than 20 years of experience in an array of sectors and practice areas. Prime legal fall into a category of best law firm, best lawyer, best family lawyer, best divorce lawyer, best divorce law firm, best criminal lawyer, best criminal law firm, best consumer lawyer, best civil lawyer.”
Written By: Abhishek singh
