New Delhi (PTI): Noted film-maker Shyam Benegal has heaped praise on Ashutosh Gowarikar for having "charmingly crafted" the recently released 'Jodhaa Akbar' and rued that controversies ruined its charm.

"Jodhaa Akbar is so charmingly crafted. There is hardly anything to create controversy as far as its depiction of historical facts is concerned," he told PTI, adding "unfortunate and absurd controversies have ruined its charm".

Benegal, who himself has made critically acclaimed period films such as 'Making of the Mahatma' and 'Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The forgotten Hero', feels it was absolutely trifling and brainless to stop a film unless there was any strong and valid reason to oppose it.

He also criticised the organisations who are demanding that 'Jodhaa Akbar' be banned on the alleged ground of distortion of facts.

"Period films have been loved in our country whenever they have been made and it hurts when stupid people stop the films without any substantial ground to oppose them," Benegal said.

"I have never heard the names of such organisations in my life, who were going haywire to oppose it. Who are all these people and where have they come from? Have you ever heard of them earlier?" he asked.