Gangubai Kathiawadi row: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s lawyer refuses to change film’s name, asserts Alia Bhatt

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Seems like trouble refuses to settle for Gangubai Kathiawadi even a few hours before release. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film stars Alia Bhatt in the titular role with special appearances from Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Shantanu Maheshwari. Three petitions were filed against the film that included the movie’s title, a scene with a Chinese national and one by her adopted son who objected the portrayal of his mother in the film.

The case is currently being heard at the Supreme Court. The lawyer representing the production house rejected the Supreme Court’s suggestion of changing the name at the last minute especially after everything has been cleared by the censor board. Senior advocate Aryama Shundaram went on to defend the film to reveal that the ‘son’ isn’t the direct adopted son. “There is not even prima facie evidence of adoption. Only ration card is there. Even members of the staff’s name come in ration card. That’s not evidence of adoption.”

The advocate later went on to add that the petitioner isn’t the adopted son but a ‘third person’ Speaking about defaming the name of the real Gangubai, Sundara further adds, “Right to defamation dies with person’s death. Name has already been published. Then where is the defamation?”

Upon hearing the argument, the judge went on to state that in a defamation case, there are only two remedies – “one is damage, second is injunction.”

Sundaram went on to add, “How is it defamation as name has been made public? How have an issue in the name. It’s already in public. I will show some series of cases. 1986 judgement which says that sometimes bad about a person is also required to be shown.”

As per the last update shared by the Live Law, Sundaram went on to argue that the movie tells the story of a person who was forced into prostitution and how she turned her pain into something stronger. “It is a motivating story. There is a huge statue. She is treated as a ‘devta’ there. What harm is being done by that?”

But seems like good news has finall come in for the team of the movie. Supreme Court has cleared all decks for the release and has also dismissed the pela that the movie is ‘defamatory.’