A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Delhi High Court against the yet-to-be-released film The Taj Story, starring veteran actor Paresh Rawal. The petition, filed by advocate Shakeel Abbas, contends that the film presents a distorted version of history surrounding the Taj Mahal and could potentially disrupt communal harmony.
In his plea, Abbas has urged the court to direct both the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to review the film’s approval before it hits theatres. The petition lists the movie’s producers, director, writer, and Paresh Rawal as respondents, alleging that they have collectively propagated “manipulated and misleading narratives” intended to advance a “divisive political ideology.”
The petitioner claims that The Taj Story deliberately alters established historical facts for political purposes and cautions that its release may incite religious and social discord. Abbas also noted that some members of the production team were previously associated with films such as The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files, both of which stirred controversy over their political overtones and communal implications.
According to the PIL, the trailer of the film was made public on October 16, and the full release is slated for October 31. The petition criticises the CBFC for what it describes as a “failure of due diligence” in granting clearance to the trailer, alleging that it contains “provocative visuals and inaccurate depictions” that could mislead the public about India’s Mughal heritage.
The petitioner has requested the court to instruct the CBFC to conduct a re-examination of the film, strengthen its disclaimer to clearly state that the work is fictional, and, if necessary, classify it as an “Adults Only” film or excise objectionable sequences. Abbas argues that unchecked dissemination of such content threatens India’s secular ethos and fosters historical misrepresentation among viewers.
The Delhi High Court is expected to take up the matter in the coming days, with the outcome likely to influence the film’s scheduled nationwide release.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
