Ban on release of Ram Leela lifted; fans ecstatic

As a sigh of relief to scores of fans of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Ram Leela, the film has come out of the ban situation on its release. Earlier, yesterday during the day, a Delhi Court has restricted Bhansali and Eros International from screening the film till the title of the film is changed. Said a staunch Bhansali fan Suresh Savant, “You know what, I am an ardent fan of Bhansali; I like his way of filmmaking. As a matter of fact I had booked a ticket for Ram Leela well in advance. Yesterday when I heard that the film would not open this Friday, I was heartbroken. But yesterday, when I switched on my TV, I was relieved to know that the ban on the film has been removed. I am sure here would be many like me who would have been happy after hearing about the revoking of the ban.” It so happened that certain Hindu community workers claimed that the sex, vulgarity and violence portrayed in a film with a mythological title like Ram Leela may hurt the sentiments of many. Accordingly, six petitioners along with the Prabhu Samaj Dharmik Ram Leela Committee filed a suit against the filmmakers for using the title of the folklore Ram Leela for the film. Clearing the matter, Bhansali responded to this case by issuing a statement that the film does not resemble any mythological folklore but was an Indian adaptation of the Shakespearean romance ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Going by the submissions of Bhansali and Eros International, a Sessions Court in Delhi decided to vacate the stay on the film yesterday evening. It has allowed Bhansali to release it worldwide as per the scheduled date. The Eros Legal team also sent a letter to the media clarifying that there is no ban or injunction on release of their film Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and it can be released and exhibited throughout the world unobstructed. (Check the letter above)