Bombay High Court dismisses PIL against Raja Shivaji title, allowing the film to release without any stay.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, ruled that the petition lacked genuine public interest and appeared to be filed with ulterior motives. The plea objected to the omission of the title “Chhatrapati” before Shivaji, claiming it disrespected the legacy of the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. However, the court found no derogatory intent in the film’s title and emphasized that such last-minute petitions cannot disrupt a film’s release without substantial grounds.
The PIL was filed by the Sree Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Foundation just two days before the film’s release. The court strongly questioned the timing, stating that the film had already been announced long ago and its release date was publicly known. The judges observed that filing such a petition at the last moment weakens its credibility and suggests it may be motivated rather than based on genuine concern.
The petitioners had demanded that the title be changed to include “Chhatrapati” and also requested a review by the Central Board of Film Certification. However, the court noted that the filmmakers had already included a disclaimer clarifying that the story focuses on the life of Shivaji before he attained the title “Chhatrapati” in 1674. This explanation was accepted as reasonable.
Actor and filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh, who is leading the project, defended the title by stating that the film explores a specific phase of Shivaji’s life. The legal team argued that the title reflects the narrative context and does not undermine historical respect. The court also pointed out that the petitioner relied on publicly available online sources rather than strong legal grounds.
With this ruling, Raja Shivaji is set for its theatrical release as planned. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree and others, with a special cameo by Salman Khan. The verdict reinforces the idea that creative freedom in cinema cannot be curtailed without solid legal justification, especially when no clear offense is established.
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