Maharashtra Theatre Owners Warned by MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Against Screening Pakistani Film “The Legend Of Maula Jatt”
Maharashtra Theatre Owners Warned by MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Against Screening Pakistani Film "The Legend Of Maula Jatt"
MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray, the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has issued a stern warning to theatre owners in Maharashtra regarding the screening of the highly acclaimed Pakistani film The Legend Of Maula Jatt. The film, which stars popular actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, is set to release in India on October 2, making it the first Pakistani film to do so in nearly a decade.
In a post on his X account, Thackeray stated, “Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s movie titled ‘Legend of Maula Jatt’ is going to release in India soon. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will not allow the movie to be released in Maharashtra under any circumstances.” He questioned the rationale behind allowing films from Pakistani actors to screen in India, emphasizing that while art may transcend national borders, this does not apply to Pakistan, a country he accused of propagating hatred towards India.
Thackeray referenced the party’s previous actions regarding similar incidents, warning theatre owners that screening this film would lead to significant repercussions. “If theatre owners who are reluctant to screen Marathi films allow Pakistani cinema to enter this land, it will cost them big time,” he declared, expressing a desire to avoid conflict in the state during the upcoming Navratri festival.
Ameya Khopkar, President of the MNS Cinema Wing, echoed Thackeray’s sentiments, saying, “There have been attacks until last week, and we will watch movies of Pakistani actors? We will not let them land their feet here; we will break it.”
The backdrop to this controversy includes a ban on Pakistani artists in India following the 2016 Uri terror attack. In November 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking a blanket ban on Pakistani artists performing or working in India, underscoring the ongoing tensions surrounding this issue.
As The Legend Of Maula Jatt prepares for its Indian release, the film’s fate hangs in the balance amid these escalating warnings from MNS leaders.
