Movie to convince MNS's stand on loudspeakers

Raj Thackeray. File Photo

In their pursuit of removing loudspeakers from mosques, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders will convince the people of their ‘social' purpose through a Marathi movie Bhonga - Azaan. The movie will be released in theatres on May 3, the deadline MNS has given to the state government to decide on the loudspeakers.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande and his party colleague Ameya Khopkar will present the film afresh. It was completed in 2018, and released on OTTs, but didn't have a big screen opening. It won the national award for best Marathi film (2019), the Filmfare critics trophy and several state government awards.

The film is directed by Shivaji Lotan Patil. It deals with sound pollution due to loudspeakers blaring religious prayers that affect a sick child in a Muslim family. Seeing the child's plight one community agrees to shut loudspeakers, but the other refuses on religious grounds.

Deshpande said the film tells what the MNS president Raj Thackeray has been trying to say. "It affects everyone. It's not a religious problem but a social one. Some people haven't understood the appeal and some have been misled," he said, adding that the release will happen on the auspicious day of Ramzan Eid and Akshay Trutiya.

Criticising the Shiv Sena, he said the party was in a fix as it could neither abandon Hindutva nor appropriate it.

Shiv Sena leader and former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar ridiculed the MNS movie release plan. "First, it was religious. Then it became a social one. Now, it's commercial. Do you think the people are fools? People know that you are out to fill your pockets by releasing the film on May 3," she said.

MNS adamant on Aurangabad rally

Deshpande said Thackeray's public rally will be held as scheduled in Aurangabad on May 1. "The NCP and Sena's Team-B has opposed the rally, but it will not be cancelled, come what may because we have a democratic right to express our views," he added.

He said the organisers in Aurangabad were in talks with the local police. "They have applied for permission. The police will give their nod."

However, information coming from Aurangabad said that the police have asked the MNS to shift the rally's venue from Marathwada Sankrutik Ground to Garware Stadium. The organisers haven't agreed yet.