Overview

• The Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Department wrote to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on August 6 requesting a temporary stay on the film’s August 8 release under Section 6(1) of the Cinematograph Act.
• The appeal asks the Central Board of Film Certification to re-examine its clearance for ‘Khalid Ka Shivaji’ after Hindu groups alleged the movie misrepresents Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a secular icon.
• Hindu Mahasangh and Sakal Hindu Samaj have led petitions and social media campaigns disputing claims that a significant share of Shivaji’s army were Muslims or that he built a mosque at Raigad Fort.
• Mumbai Police issued a notice to Sakal Hindu Samaj over WhatsApp messages and detained two protesters who disrupted the Maharashtra State Film Awards with slogans demanding a ban.
• The film, directed by Raj Pritam More and selected at Cannes, remains in limbo as authorities have not announced a final decision on its certification or release.