Storm over Partition love story

A period film with an inter-religious love theme

By Sanjeev Srivastava in Bombay

A new Bollywood film about Hindu-Muslim romance in the turbulent times of the subcontinent's 1947 partition is threatening to turn sour.

Some Indian Muslims are protesting against the film - Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (Rebellion: A Love Story) for its "anti-Islamic" bias.

[Gadar] confuses the issue of nationalism, religion and identities

Actress and politician Shabana Azmi

The president of the Bombay Muslim League, Mohammad Farooq Azam, has called on Muslims to boycott Indian satellite television channel Zee TV, which has produced the film.

A few cinema theatres in the cities of Bhopal, Ahmedabad and Bhiwandi have been damaged in the past few days by Muslim youth opposing the film.

However, in most Indian cities where the film was released two weeks ago, the film is doing well and screenings have not been interrupted.

'Delete scenes'

The Muslim League has asked the authorities either to ban the film or delete certain scenes it objects to by Thursday.

It plans street demonstrations from Friday in different parts of the country.

Bal Thackeray: Stinging editorial in his party organ

"We have no choice but to call for a boycott of Zee as the officials of the channel, as well as the film's producer, refuse to acknowledge they have made any mistake in portraying Muslims the way they have done in the film," Mohammad Farooq Azam told the BBC.

According to Mr Azam the film depicts Muslims as barbaric rapists who instigated partition riots.

He also objects to the fact that the film does not show the suffering of Muslims in the same way it talks about the pain Hindus went through at the time of partition.

And he is opposed to the film's female lead being named Sakina, a name held in reverence by Muslims.

'Provocative'

It is not only organisations like the Muslim League which are opposing the film.

Prominent community leaders like film star turned politician Shabana Azmi has also described the film as "provocative which positions Muslims as the Other".

Nobody has approached us with objections

Film producer Nitin Keni

She also says the film "confuses the issue of nationalism, religion and identities without dealing with the complexities of the pain the Partition created in its wake".

Azmi who also starred in a controversial film - Fire - based on a lesbian relationship which was opposed by rightwing Hindu organisations a couple of years ago - does not subscribe to the view that Gadar be banned.

She says the film has been passed by the Indian Censor Board and the country's constitution upholds the right of freedom of expression and that should be honoured even in "trying circumstances".

Unmoved

The film's producer, Nitin Keni, told the BBC that there are no plans to make any changes in the film.

Bombay police are braced for trouble

"Nobody has approached us with objections. We do not even know which scenes are objectionable in the eyes of those opposing the film," Mr Keni said.

He argued that the film was a love story which talked about peace, happiness and love.

Some analysts are now concerned that the controversy may take a communal turn especially in cities like Bombay where the leader of the ultra-nationalist Hindu Shiv Sena party, Bal Thackeray, has written a stinging front page editorial in his party newspaper against those Muslims opposing the film.

Authorities are not taking any chances and security arrangements have been tightened in cinemas showing Gadar.

"We don't foresee trouble. But its best to be prepared for any eventuality," YC Pawar, joint commissioner police said.