A court in Muzaffarpur, Bihar has directed the police to lodge an FIR against actor Salman Khan and the cast and crew of upcoming Bollywood film Loveratri on the basis of a complaint that the title and contents of the movie had hurt the Hindu sentiments.
The decision was taken based on a complaint filed in the court which alleged that the title of the film mocks the holy festival of Navaratri. He has also claimed that he film’s scheduled release on October 5 is likely to hurt the Hindu sentiments.
Loveratri is a play on the word ‘Navratri’ which is a Hindu festival. The Hindu goddess Durga is worshiped during the period which last for nine days.
The complaint has made Salman Khan, who is the producer of the film, and the film’s director and actors parties, further claiming that the promos of the film contain a lot of vulgarity.
The complaint was lodged before the court last week under various sections of the Indian Penal Code which pertain to injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class, uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot and criminal conspiracy.
Earlier, the film had also upset the Hindu nationalist organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) as they found Loveratri offensive. International working president of VHP Alok Kumar said, “We will not allow Loveratri’s exhibition in cinema halls in the country. We don’t want the sentiments of Hindus to be hurt. The film is set against the backdrop of Navratri, a Hindu festival, and the name distorts its meaning.”
Salman has not yet commented on the matter.
Loveratri stars actor, Khan’s brother-in-law Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain who will both make their Bollywood debuts with the movie. It releases on October 5.
