Shillong, June 16: Cinema halls across Kathmandu have stopped the screening of the movie ‘Adipurush’ following a warning from Mayor Balen Shah, who stated that no Indian film would be allowed in the Nepal capital unless the film corrects the alleged “mistake” regarding the birthplace of Sita, as depicted in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
The Nepal Film Union has called upon all cinema halls in Kathmandu to stop showing ‘Adipurush’ and advised theaters outside the capital to assess the security situation before releasing the film.
Mayor Shah expressed his concerns in a tweet on Thursday, mentioning that the film incorrectly states that “Sita is the daughter of India.” He further stated that until this error is rectified in both India and Nepal, no Indian movie would be permitted for screening within the Kathmandu metropolitan city.
‘Adipurush’, written and directed by Om Raut and produced by T-Series and Retrophiles, has faced controversy not only in Nepal but also in India.
QFX Cinemas, a prominent theater chain in Nepal, released a statement stating that they would not show ‘Adipurush’ to ensure the security of their viewers. They mentioned that they are awaiting a decision from the government. Once the issue is resolved, they will issue another notice and apologize for any inconvenience caused to the audience.
Nepal’s Censor Board has also decided to withhold permission for the upcoming Indian epic mythological film, based on the Hindu epic “Ramayana,” due to the same controversy surrounding the depiction of Sita’s birthplace.
According to the Ramayana, Sita was born in Janakpur, Nepal, and Lord Rama traveled there to marry her.