Filmmaker moves Bombay High Court after 'Khalid ka Shivaji' release stalled amid right-wing protests

National Award-winning filmmaker Raj Pritam More has approached the Bombay High Court challenging the suspension of the censor certificate for his Marathi film 'Khalid ka Shivaji', following protests alleging that the film involves a historical misrepresentation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj [Raj Pritam More v CBFC and Ors]..The filmmaker claims the suspension, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on August 7, just a day before the film’s scheduled release, is arbitrary, illegal, politically motivated, and violates his constitutional right to free speech.A Division Bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale on Thursday refused to grant immediate relief to the petitioner. However, the Court orally directed that no further extension of the suspension be made without first granting More a hearing. .Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, assured the Court that the filmmaker would be informed and heard at least a week in advance before any extension is considered. The court further directed the Ministry to decide any representation made by the petitioner before the suspension period ends..According to the petition, More’s film tells the story of a young Muslim boy who, after being bullied for his religion, learns about Shivaji Maharaj. The film was granted a CBFC certificate on November 12, 2024, after the makers complied with modifications suggested by the board.The plea states that the film had been selected for several film festivals, including Cannes 2025, and had received official backing from the Maharashtra government. However, after the trailer was released online, right-wing groups raised objections. They took issue with the film’s depiction of Shivaji Maharaj as “secular” and references to a significant Muslim presence in his army. According to them, these portrayals were historically inaccurate and should not be shown..More received a notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on August 7, 2025, under Section 6(2) of the Cinematograph Act, summoning him for a hearing with less than an hour’s notice. By 7 PM that same evening, the Ministry suspended the CBFC certificate for a period of one month, citing public interest and potential law and order issues.Later, on August 20, the suspension order was published in the official gazette.The petition argues that the petitioner was not heard properly and that the process was undertaken in violation of natural justice.“The notice was issued less than an hour before the hearing, depriving the Petitioner of meaningful opportunity to prepare and respond to the allegations.”It further argues that the suspension order is vague and unsupported by evidence, pointing out that even the Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, who attended the hearing, presented no reports to justify the claim of possible unrest.“The impugned suspension order makes no finding of actual breach of law but rests on speculative apprehension and vague assertions about public sentiments,” the plea states..More seeks to quash the August 7 suspension order and allow the release of the film. He has also sought interim relief of staying the suspension order and preventing further interference with the exhibition and distribution of the film.The Court will hear the petition next on September 22..Senior Advocate Virendra Tulzapurkar appeared for More.Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh appeared for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.Advocate General Birendra Saraf appeared for the State.