‘Adipurush’s dialogue row: After Kathmandu, Nepal’s Pokhara enforces a ban Indian films

Prabhas and Kriti Sanon starrer ‘Adipurush’ has been making headlines over the last few days for its cringeworthy dialogues. Soon after Kathmandu Metropolis enforced a ban on the screening of Indian films over ‘Janaki is a daughter of India’ dialogue in the Om Raut directorial, the Pokhara Metropolitan City has also taken the same decision.

Pokhara Mayor directed cinema halls in the Metropolitan city of central Nepal to stop screening of all Bollywood films starting from June 19.

After the orders from the mayors of both Metropolitan cities, the cinema halls have scrapped the screening of Bollywood films from their schedule and replaced them with Hollywood and Nepali movies.

On June 18, Kathmandu Mayor took to Facebook and wrote, ‘Indian film Adipurush had a dialogue claiming Janaki was India’s daughter which is objectionable and we had given three days’ ultimatum to correct it. There is no doubt that it is the first duty of every government, government agency, non-governmental sector and Nepali citizen to protect the national interest by keeping Nepal’s freedom, independence and self-respect intact.’

The mayor further claimed it is the duty of all the government authorities to protect the national interest and stated the screening of films will damage the national identity, nationality and cultural unity.

‘If the film is shown as it is, it seems that Nepal’s nationality, cultural unity and national identity will be severely damaged and irreparable damage will be done.

Due to cultural encroachment on Nepal from that movie, this metropolitan city has attracted serious attention,’ the mayor said.

Soon after the announcement of the ban on screening in the Nepali capital, the ‘T-Series’ the production company of ‘Adipurush’ has written to Nepali Mayor stating it was ‘never intentional or deliberate to cause any disharmony for anyone.’

‘We request you to view the film in its artistic form and support the intention of reaching out to a larger audience to create interest in our history,’ the letter signed by Radhika Das from the Super Cassette Industries Private Ltd also known as T-Series said.

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