After Yash Chopra rendered an unconditional apology, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has agreed to lift the ban on his production Aaja Nachle. The film, which ran into trouble because of certain lyrics, will now be screened in all theatres without the controversial line.
"We have just received a formal apology from Yash Chopra, who has agreed to not only remove the objectionable portions from the title song but has also assured us that he will not use those lines in any of his future films. In view of the apology and his assurance, the state government has decided to lift the ban. Movie halls will begin screening the film by Saturday evening."
The film was slapped with a total ban in Uttar Pradesh and in the National Capital Region of Noida. Chief Minsiter Mayawati said that the ban was in keeping with the sentiments of the various Dalit groups that found certain languages and lyrics in the film objectionable. There were also reports that Mayawati has requested the Prime Minister to impose a ban on the film all over the country.
The Punjab Chief Minister has also imposed a ban on the film not wanting to fan communal tensions.
But from what it seems, Chopra could well breathe a sigh of relief. Earlier in the day he apologised and said, "It was not our intention to hurt the feelings of any individual or community of our great nation. If we have inadvertently hurt the sentiments of anybody I apologise for the same and have taken immediate remedial action by deleting the line from the prints of Aaja Nachle from all over the country. This line has been deleted in all the theatres today."
Members of the Indian Justice Party had staged protests outside some theatres in Delhi. There were also protests in Lucknow and director Anil Mehta appeared on television channels apologising for any inadvertently grief caused to any section of society. However he did express his surprise over why the Censor Board had not found the dialogues or lyrics objectionable before offering to remove the controversial words from the film.
Lyricist Piyush Mishra too offered to remove the words from his lyrics. Mishra had also requested Mayawati to watch the film first before pressing on for a nation-wide ban on the film.
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