June 14th 2024.
YRF Entertainment's highly anticipated film, Maharaj, was met with unexpected delays as the Gujarat High Court issued a stay on its release following a petition by members of a Hindu sect. The group claimed that the movie would offend their religious beliefs.
The film, which marks the debut of Aamir Khan's son Junaid Khan, caught the attention of social media users with hashtags like "Boycott Netflix" and "Ban Maharaj Film" trending on various platforms. As a result, Aamir Khan himself was also trending on Twitter. The controversy only intensified when the Gujarat High Court intervened, putting a halt to the film's release.
The court's decision came in response to a petition filed by members of Pushtimarg, a Vaishnava sect of Hinduism. The single-judge bench of Justice Sangeeta Vishen ordered a stay on the film's release and issued notices to the Centre, Netflix, and Yash Raj Films. The court scheduled a hearing for June 18 to further address the matter.
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra under YRF Entertainment, Maharaj boasts a star-studded cast including Jaideep Ahlawat. Interestingly, unlike most mainstream films that launch star kids with much fanfare, Maharaj had no trailers or teasers, with only a poster featuring Jaideep and Junaid.
The poster depicts the two actors standing side by side, with Jaideep's character wearing a 'tilak' on his forehead and Junaid's character dressed in a waistcoat. While Netflix and YRF have yet to comment on the controversy surrounding the film, they released a joint press note to the media, requesting them to hold off on publishing reviews of the film until the ongoing proceedings are resolved. The note concluded with a message of gratitude for the support and patience of their audience.
According to a press release issued by Netflix last month, Maharaj is set in pre-independent India and is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, which was sparked by allegations of misconduct by a prominent figure. It follows the story of Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and social reformer who played a crucial role in advocating for women's rights and social reform.
The streamer added that the case garnered widespread attention and scrutiny, making it one of the most significant legal battles of all time. However, the petitioners argued that releasing the film would be a direct attack on their religious sentiments and could potentially incite violence against followers of their sect.
They pointed out that the British-era court, which had presided over the libel case, had made blasphemous comments against Lord Krishna and devotional songs and hymns of the Hindu religion. The petitioners also expressed concern over the secretive release of the film, with no trailers or promotional events, to avoid any backlash.
The call to boycott Maharaj was echoed by various individuals and groups, including VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi, who took to Twitter to express their outrage. One user wrote, "We won't tolerate the disrespect of Sanatan Dharma. Ban Maharaj Film. #BoycottNetflix." Another questioned the double standards when it comes to movies that portray Hinduism and Islam, citing the recent controversy surrounding Annu Kapoor's movie Hamare Baarah.
Meanwhile, some drew parallels to the boycott calls against Aamir's previous film, Laal Singh Chaddha, which also faced backlash over the actor's comments on growing intolerance in India. Earlier this year, Nayanthara-starrer Annapoorani was pulled down from Netflix after viewers claimed it hurt their religious sentiments. The actor also issued an apology on social media.
Maharaj also features Shalini Pandey and Sharvari in a special appearance and is part of the multi-year creative partnership between Netflix and Yash Raj Films' digital arm, YRF Entertainment. As the legal battle continues, the fate of the film remains uncertain, and fans will have to wait for further updates on its release.
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