The Marathi film ‘Har Har Mahadev’ has sparked disagreements between political parties in Maharashtra, with the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) favoring it, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) against its showing in theaters. In addition, several moviegoers are said to have been beaten up for choosing to see the film. An FIR was registered against senior NCP leader and former minister of state Jitendra Awhad and at least 100 others by Thane police for alleged sedition of spectators.
Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said beating moviegoers for watching historical Marathi movies will not be tolerated and action will be taken against people involved in such incidents.
In addition to BJP, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also supported the historical Marathi film and challenged Awhad to cancel the film in Thane. The film will be screened in Thane, and Ahwad was challenged by the MNS to delay the screening and criticized the party’s protest against it. “The NCP that is stopping the screening of the film is reprehensible. The party is trying to give caste color to the film,” MNS spokesman Sandeep Deshpande said in an Indian Express report.
Former NCP minister Jitendra Awhad and his men storm into Viviana shopping center and beat up the crowd #Harharmahadev movie show.
Awhad is that street that Lukka always tries to appease his Thug Bosses.
He is a repeat offender, hope the law takes action for his violence @Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/Jxwcvmsgbk
— AgentVinod (@AgentVinod03) Nov 8, 2022
In the city of Pune, the show was disrupted by members of a Maratha outfit, while in Thane NCP leader and former minister Jitendra Awhad is said to have prompted activists to block the nighttime showing of the film on a multiplex.
Sambhaji Chhatrapati, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj, also expressed his displeasure with the Marathi film. “Several films stir up a stir for hurtful feelings. Using the term cinematic freedom, inaccuracies have been portrayed in the recently released ‘Har Har Mahadev’. he said Monday.
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