Controversy surrounding Param Sundari as Christian Group demands the elimination of an intimate church scene featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra
A Christian group called the Watchdog Foundation has raised concerns over a romantic scene between Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra, set in a church, in the upcoming film Param Sundari. The group claims that the scene disrespects the sanctity of the church as a sacred place of worship and deeply offends the Catholic community's religious sentiments [1][2][3].
The Watchdog Foundation has written to various authorities, including the CBFC, Mumbai Police, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, and the Maharashtra government, demanding the removal of the scene not only from the film but also from trailers and promotional content. They have threatened public protests if their demand is not met and have also called for a First Information Report (FIR) against the film's producer, director, and lead actors for hurting religious feelings [1][2][3][4][5].
Advocate Godfrey Pimenta, representing the group, emphasized that the CBFC's role includes balancing artistic expression with respect for religious sensitivities under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. He argued that the church should not be used as a backdrop for what they see as indecent content, citing legal precedents that protect religious sentiments from malicious outrage while recognizing freedom of expression [1][2][3].
The film Param Sundari, directed by Tushar Jalota, is slated to release on August 29. The romantic drama navigates a cross-cultural romance between the two leads, one from Delhi and the other from Kerala. Apart from Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra, the film stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Aakash Dahiya in pivotal roles.
However, it is the church scene in question that has caused offense to the Christian group. The Watchdog Foundation's letter did not mention any specific objections to the artistic expression of the film, but rather focused on the inappropriate use of a religious place of worship in the scene [1][2][3].
The group has also requested the scene's removal from the trailer and promotional videos of Param Sundari [1][2]. If their demands are not met, they have threatened public protests. This controversy comes as a setback for the film's makers, who were looking forward to its release later this month.
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