‘Adipurush’ has not been screened in Nepal even though the ban on the screening of Hindi films has been lifted. The Kriti-Prabhas starrer was banned in Nepal from the beginning. Recently, the court had ordered that the screening of any film approved by the censor board of the country cannot be stopped. Similarly, the screening of Hindi films has started in various multiplexes in Kathmandu from Friday. However, ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’ was shown, but ‘Adipurush’ was not seen.
In a statement, the Nepal Motion Picture Association said all Nepali and foreign films, except Adipurush, will be screened from Friday.
A dialogue in Adipurusha, in which Sita is referred to as the “daughter of India”, led to a ban on all Hindi films announced by Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah.
Sita, also known as Janaki, is believed by many to have been born in Janakpur in southeastern Nepal.
On Thursday, a single bench of Justice Dhir Bahadur Chand of the Patan High Court issued a short-term order saying that screening of films that have received permission from the censor board should not be stopped.
“We believed that no one is above nation and nationality. It is our fundamental right to engage in our business freely in accordance with the laws of Nepal,” the bench observed.
On the same day, Shah said he was ready to face any punishment but would not allow Adipurush’s screening as the matter related to “Nepal’s sovereignty and independence”.
