In a move that has stirred a significant controversy, all Hindi films, including “Adipurush,” have been banned in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, and the tourist town of Pokhara. The decision came after objections were raised over certain dialogues in the movie, including the reference to Sita as “India’s daughter.” The ban was enforced with police personnel deployed across 17 theaters in Kathmandu to ensure compliance.
“Adipurush,” directed by Om Raut and starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, offers a retelling of the epic Ramayana. However, its dialogue referring to Sita as “India’s daughter” has caused uproar, particularly in Nepal where Sita, also known as Janaki, is believed to have been born in Janakpur, southeast of the country.
Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah announced that no Hindi films would be allowed to be screened in Kathmandu Metropolitan City until the controversial dialogue in “Adipurush” is removed, not only in Nepal but also in India. He stressed that failing to remove the dialogue would result in “irreparable damage.” Following Kathmandu’s decision, Pokhara Metropolis Mayor Dhanaraj Acharya also declared a ban on “Adipurush” screenings in Pokhara.
The mayor’s announcement prompted a flurry of reactions on Nepali social media, with some supporting the decision while others criticized it. As the controversy unfolded, “Adipurush” dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla stated that the movie’s makers had decided to revise some of the dialogues in response to heavy criticism of the film’s language. Shukla assured that the amended lines would be incorporated into the movie by the end of the week.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City Police Chief Raju Pandey confirmed that the police had conducted inspections of cinema halls within the city as per the mayor’s instructions. During the inspections, QFX Hall at Civil Mahal in Kathmandu announced that they would be showing Nepali and English movies instead of Hindi ones until permission was granted by the KMC authority.
The controversy surrounding “Adipurush” has raised questions about national interest and cultural identity, with lawmakers and political leaders expressing their views on the matter. Sunil K C, a lawmaker of Bagmati Province and youth leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, emphasized the need for support when national interest and cultural identity were at stake.
As the ban takes effect, moviegoers in Kathmandu have reported that Q’s Cinema has already stopped screening “Adipurush” and has instead begun showing the Nepali film “Neer Phool.”
The ongoing dispute over the dialogues in “Adipurush” underscores the sensitivity surrounding cultural and historical narratives, highlighting the significance of engaging in respectful and inclusive storytelling to avoid unintentional controversies and disputes.
Sources By Agencies
