The Supreme Court has lifted the bans imposed by certain state governments like Gujarat and Haryana on the movie Padmavat and said the movie will screen across India next week.
The movie is set to release on Jan 25.
The court said it was the responsibility of the state governments to keep law and order, and that they cannot find short cuts as far as doing their job is concerned.
As such, said the court, the movie will be released and the state governments will provide the required protection for the theaters. The state governments had banned the films saying exhibiting it would lead to law and order problems.
The court noted that it was cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification, the central body in charge of certifying films, and there was not question of it being subjected to further approvals and clearances.
The movie shot into prominence after Rajput Karni Sena, which claims to represent the interests of a community known as Rajputs, said it insulted their history.
The Sena has problems with the depiction of queen Padmavati, who belonged to the Rajput community, in the film. It has objected to showing her dancing, and said such portrayals ran counter to the history that they know of.