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Mayawati bans Aaja Nachle in UP
By Polly Wilson in Lucknow
November 30, 2007

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit's comeback film Aaja Nachle in Uttar Pradesh.

The reason -- Mayawati has taken strong exception to a particular line in a song sequence, which according to her, was derogatory to a section of Dalits.

Not satisfied with the statewide ban, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister wants the ban to be extended across the country and has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Shailesh Krishna told rediff.com, "A song in the movie contained certain derogatory insinuations against a particular Dalit community, which was also in violation of the spirit of the Constitution."

Confirming the enforcement of the government order, Lucknow district magistrate Chandra Bhanu said, "We have already ensured that screening of the film is stopped with immediate effect."

Objectionable line to be deleted:

Makers of Aaja Nachle have decided to delete a particular line from the number.

"We did not set out to make a film, which would offend any sensibility. It is not out intention to hurt any section of the society. We made the film in good spirit and faith. And if for some reason it offended the sensibilities of some people, then the decision we have taken is we will delete the line straightway," the film's director Anil Mehta said.

Mehta said instructions have been issued to the film's distributors and directives would be issued to each cinema hall showing the movie to delete the 'objectionable' line from the song.

Additional Reportage: PTI

Polly Wilson in Lucknow
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