'Padmaavat' barred in Malaysia over 'sensitivities of Islam'

Controversial Bollywood movie Padmaavat, which has released in India after a struggle, is now barred from opening in cinemas in Malaysia over concerns regarding "sensitivities of Islam".

Malaysia's National Film Censorship Board (LPF) has barred filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat from releasing in the country.

LPF chairman Mohammed Zamberi Abdul Aziz said in a statement that the storyline of the film itself is of grave concern as "Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country."

 "The storyline of the film touches on the sensitivities of Islam. That in itself is a matter of grave concern in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country," Aziz said.

Based on 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's poem Padmavat,the film was caught in a row in India after protests from a Rajput outfit Shri Rajput Karni Sena over allegations that the movie distorts historical facts and dents the pride of the Rajput community. The film was eventually released in India on January 25, 2018.

Post-release, the film has had mixed reviews. It has been criticised by some sections for glorifying not just jauhar and also for showing Alauddin Khilji as a demon-like figure.

The distributor in Malaysia is expected to appeal the LPF decision to a separately constituted Film Appeals Committee on Tuesday.