Free Speech Tracker

List of Incidents in Maharashtra -> Censorship -> 2011
Hindu outfit stages protest against play on M F Husain
Ref: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/hindu-outfit-now-protests-against-play-on-m-f-husain/849007/
Mumbai, Maharashtra

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) continued its smear campaign against late painter M F Husain on Monday and staged a silent protest outside Nehru Centre, the venue of a biographical play on the painter titled Pencil se Brush Tak (The journey from a pencil to a brush). The play is the opening act for the centre"™s 15th theatre festival which ends on September 26.

While the Hindu outfit continued to echo that"the painter was unapologetic of depicting denigration of Hindu deities", the organisers and the cast of the play maintained that"objectionable portions were removed and the play was simply biographical in nature".

In 2009, a few changes were made to the play on HJS"™s objection after it was staged at Prithvi Theatre. The outfit has lodged a total of 1,250 complaints against Husain across the country.

Juhi Babbar from Ekdoot Production, which is hosting the play, confirmed receiving an e-mail from the organisation, but said,"The play has got a certificate from the Censor Board and also has a performance licence. We have all the permissions required to stage the play. There is nothing controversial in this play and we are perfectly alright if the organisation wants to stage a silent protest."

Actor Anup Soni, who has a part in the play, added the members of HJS were shown the play in 2009 and there were no more changes made since then."We bring the life of a painter and his interesting years. There is so much to learn, right from his birth in Pandharpur."

Satish Sawhney, chief executive at Nehru Centre, confirmed meeting with the outfit."I told them we live in a democracy where a performance that is backed legally has a right to be staged. They too can protest against the play as long as they do it democratically. Everybody has a right of opinion and a right to ensure that it is heard.

We ensured they get a visible place where a reasonable number of protestors can gather. They have been told to use placards to communicate and not obstruct anyone who wishes to watch the play."

He added,"To my knowledge, there was nothing objectionable in the play. The scenes and the paintings were innocuous. The paintings were in the painter"™s peculiar style and the scenes were interpretation from the Ramayan, just like Ramleela." The local police also confirmed that the outfit sought the permission to protest.