Two separate PILs have been filed in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh seeking a stay on the release of the film ‘Sonchiriya’. Daku Malkhan Singh and grandson of Daku Mal Singh, Jandel Singh have filed a petition against the film, which is set in 1975 in Chambal.
Malkhan Singh, who was the synonym of terror in Chambal during the 80s’ claims that the story of this movie has been taken from his biography titled ‘Malkhan- The Story of a Bandit King’. And since he has not watched and approved it, it should not be screened for the public without his approval.
Malkan, who is in his seventies now, has 100 cases of dacoity, murder, and kidnapping against him.
The other petitioner Jandel Singh claims that the film based on Mal Singh gang and the directors have included a woman in the story which is not true. He also wants a special screening of the film, before its release.
Mal Singh is said to have committed over 1000 robberies and 185 murders which includes several police officers. He was shot dead in 1955 while sitting under a banyan tree.
Jandel’s advocate Girraj Singhal said he had sent representations to the filmmakers appraising them with their objections but in vain. Jandel also says that the film represents a bad image of Chambal region and it deserves to be banned.
“Since there was no response from the directors we had to move court,” says Singhal. Justice S A Dharmadhakari and Justice V S Ahluwalia will hear the petitions on Friday.
Based on the rebels of Chambal valley and rooted in the era of 70s’ during the emergency period in India, the film stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey and Ashutosh Rana.