Padmaavat, that released on 25th January, finally after a line of controversies and chaos has been getting positive reviews across the world. Poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar and actor Shabana Azmi happened to watch the film on 24th January at a private screening.
After watching the film, the duo was completely blown over by the film and loved every bit of it. He commented on the film and had this to say, “I saw the film and I feel it is among the most accomplished achievements I’ve seen in Indian cinema in recent times.” He went on to talk about the protests against the film and said ” I fail to understand what the protesters are protesting against.”
He added,“The film is a passionate unadulterated homage to the valour and integrity of the Rajput community. Not a word, not a frame in the film is an insult to the community. In fact, it is insulting to the film to suggest that it in any way insults the very community it honors,”
Shabana Azmi was overwhelmed by the experience of the film and feels that ‘Padmaavat’ should be India’s official entry to the Oscars.
“It is a film that should be sent as India’s entry to the Oscars. My heart was filled with pride while watching ‘Padmaavat’. It is a film for every Indian. I was completely drawn in by the storytelling. It is spectacular and spell-binding,” she remarked.
Commenting on the lack of support from the industry for the film, Shabana said, “The film industry is being accused for its lack of support for the director and his team, which is not fair. We were prevented from doing so as the producers thought it was more prudent not to be confrontational!” She also said that, “I believe that if FIRs had been lodged in the first place when Sanjay Leela Bhansali was assaulted in Rajasthan, things would not have reached this state”