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Film controversy

It has become a trend for big-budget films based on history to be mired in controversies. Jodhaa Akbar is no exception. Some Rajput groups have protested against what they call distortion of historical facts in the movie based on Mughal emperor Akbar.

The film was released on February 15 but the protests against its screening started much earlier. One wonders whether the protesters know what treatment has been given to the subject in the movie. Such protests have become a cheap way for various groups to earn popularity.

Rajeev Prakash Singh,

Jaunpur

It is surprising to note the claim by the filmmakers of Jodhaa Akbar that there is no historical distortion. If historical facts are followed accurately, a historical film will not be a work of art — it will remain a documentary.

Even in Shakespeare’s historical plays, there were many deviations. Henry VI, Henry IV and Richard II are some examples. Whether you write a novel or make a film, you have to add to or delete from true facts. Only then the creation becomes art. The filmmakers of Jodhaa Akbar should openly say they have blended history with invention. By doing so, they can defuse the crisis in Rajasthan.

C. Rajasekaran,

Kumbakonam

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