Censor Board nods head for Padmavati with U/A certificate

New Delhi, December 30: The year’s biggest controversy Padmavati finally gets U/A certificate from Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). But there is a twist in the tale that it might release with a new title Padmavat. Also the board has suggested 26 cuts to the film.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film — which stars Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini, Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khalji and Shahid Kapoor as Rana Ratan Singh — has been at the centre of widespread protests by the Rajput groups and allies since earlier this year. Organisations such as the Karni Sena not only manhandled Bhansali and disrupted the film's shoot in Rajasthan, they called for a ban on Padmavati's release in the state. Several state governments then declared that they would not allow Bhansali's film to be screened in their theatres. Deepika and Bhansali received death threats.

According to a release issued by the CBFC, the board had a meeting of their examining committee on 28 December and decided to give the film a “UA certification along with some modifications and likely change of the film’s title on the basis the attributed material/creative source”.

The board also suggested modifications in disclaimers, pertinently adding one regarding not glorifying the practice of “sati” and also relevant changes in the song ghoomar to befit the character portrayed, the release further stated.