Court restrains 'Rang Rasiya' release after kin sends legal notice

Alappuzha: The critically acclaimed Hindi film ‘Rang Rasiya’ based on Ranjit Desai’s novel titled ‘Raja Ravi Varma’ is caught in a legal tangle over the obscene scenes relating to the alleged affair of the legendary painter with a model in Mumbai.

The Mavelikara munsiff court on Tuesday passed an interim injunction banning the release of the movie following a complaint filed by Indiradevi Kunjamma, the granddaughter of Ravi Varma. However, director Ketan Mehta denied her claim.

He told DC from Mumbai over phone that a disclaimer saying that the film had no connection with Ravi Varma’s private life had been included in the film.

“The film was certified by the Central Board of Film Certification a year ago. I had received a legal notice on October 11 and we had replied accordingly. The film is slated to be released by November 7. We will fight it legally,” he said.

Judge Prasun Mohan said in his order that the makers of ‘Rang Rasiya’ should not exhibit the movie without adding a disclaimer that the film had no connection with the personal life of Ravi Varma.

“Considering the plaintiff’s argument that the exhibition of the movie with the original picture of Ravi Varma and without a declaimer will discredit the reputation, decency and morality of the family, the court has ordered anybody in connection with the movie from releasing or exhibiting the movie,” the order says.

Indiradevi Kunjamma told DC that they had not received any reply from the director and producers of the movie so far. “The videos appeared on YouTube are absurd. The obscene part of the movie cannot be compared with the real life of our grandfather. He moved to Mumbai at the age of 46. So, would it be fair to say that he had an affair with a model in his old age? He had no immoral affair with any woman. Our only demand is to include a disclaimer that the theme had no connection with the real life of Ravi Varma and no original picture should be used in the movie,” she said.

Mr Shyam Shekhar, an Alappuzha-based lawyer who has been tasked by Ketan Mehta’s office to look into the matter, said that the order would not affect the future of the movie.

‘Rang Rasiya’ was screened in the 2008 edition of International Film Festival of Kerala.