Right-wing organisations in Pune have demanded a ban on the release of the award-winning Marathi film Dashkriya claiming that it portrays Brahmins and Hindus in a bad light and “creates hatred among castes.” They have also warned of untoward incidents if the film unit does not take their approval before releasing it.

According to them, the film shows Brahmins – and thus all Hindus – as greedy people who perform the last rites of bodies for their livelihood. Anand Dave the president of Akhil Bhartiya Brahman Mahasabha, Pune, said, “We have asked the police commissioner of Pune to ensure that the film is not released and also told theatre owners to not release the movie.”

Dashkriya, which is scheduled to be released on November 17, shows how Brahmins exploit the emotions of bereaved families in order to earn money. Members of Kirvant community – who are Brahmins – perform the last rites of the dead on the 13th day after cremation to help achieve salvation from the cycle of birth. These rituals are performed on the banks of Ganges. The film shows how the emotionally vulnerable family of a recently deceased readily performs the rites as per the instructions of these Brahmins whose only objective is to earn money.