Five scenes deleted from Telugu film Khadgam Police intervene after Krishna Vamsi's social drama sparks protests

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The Andhra Pradesh police has ordered the deletion of five objectionable scenes from the controversial Telugu film Khadgam. The scenes were found to be "highly inflammatory and sectarian, causing disaffection among certain sections of society".

Several religious and political organisations demanded censorship of some dialogues and scenes in the film that were allegedly directed at Muslims. The film's cast includes Srikanth, Ravi Teja, Prakash Raj, and Sonali Bendre.

Following a barrage of complaints, Director General of Police Pervaram Ramulu called for a meeting with the film's producer Murali and director Krishna Vamsi. A committee of senior police officers viewed the film and suggested cuts. The producer agreed to these cuts.

The film had set off a row when it was released in Andhra Pradesh on November 29. Some political parties and social organisations objected to certain scenes. Protest demonstrations were held in several towns. The controversy assumed communal overtones when the Bharatiya Janata Party justified the anti-minority scenes and dialogues, claiming that these represented a true picture of what was happening in the country. The party decried attempts made by some ministers to censor the film "only to please a section of people".

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha also demanded the arrest of the son of a minister under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for holding a demonstration seeking deletion of objectionable scenes in the film. The BJYM alleged that Higher Education Minister N Mohammed Farook's son Jaheer Basha had organised the protest in Nandyal town on Sunday, December 8, and tried to attack a theatre screening the film. The BJYM threatened to launch a statewide agitation if the government censored any part of the film.

Majlis Bachao Tehreek leader Mohammed Amjadullah Khan, on the other hand, demanded a complete ban on the film. He also threatened to launch a statewide protest and gherao theatres exhibiting Khadgam.

That was when Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told Home Minister T Devender Goud and DGP Ramulu to look into the issue.