'Elizabeth Ekadashi' producer rubbishes right wing protest

Panaji: Producer of Marathi film 'Elizabeth Ekadashi', which revolves around three children and a bicycle, has termed as "silly" the protest by a right wing organisation against a simile used in the film, which it had claimed as offending.

"In India, controversies will happen for anything and everything. Those who are objecting have not even seen the film," producer Nittin Keni told reporters on the sidelines of 45th International Film Festival of India in the presence of film director Paresh Mokashi.

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) had on November 19, the eve of beginning of IFFI, demanded withdrawal of the film saying "its title is misleading and hurting religious sentiments."

The movie poster shows an English woman posing like 'Lord Vithal', the deity of Varkari community in Maharashtra.

"These are things that one uses for any kind of representation. It has no?religious significance or has anything to do with denigration of religion.I think it's very silly in today's time to take up something like this. There are other big issues that people can take up," Keni said referring to the HJS' objection to the particular pose.

Set in the holy village of Pandharpur in Maharashtra, the story is about three kids and their bicycle named 'Elizabeth'.

Director of the film, Paresh Mokashi explained that it was a habit of every child to name her possessions. "That is why the cycle is named as Elizabeth," he said adding that cycle is "a character in the film."

Mokashi, who had won accolades for his Marathi film 'Harishchandrachi Factory' (2009) depicting the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke in making India's first feature film 'Raja Harishchandra in 1913, said even varkaris did not have any objection to the movie.

"We organised a special screening of the movie for varkaris at Pandharpur. They were very happy and in fact they took us out in procession," he recalled.

The Indian Panorama section has seven Marathi films this year, including national award winning 'Yellow' and 'Dr Prakash Baba Amte ? The Real Hero'.