‘Sanatani’ Hit Theatres Across Odisha After Go Ahead From HC; Know The Controversy

Bubaneswar/Cuttack: After being embroiled in a conversion row, Odia film ‘Sanatani: Karma Hi Dharma’ released in theatres across Odisha on Friday.

Last week, the Christian community of Kandhamal reportedly wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and requested him to stop its release, claiming that it portrays their community in poor light.

Two separate petitions were also filed in the Orissa High Court to stop the release of the film, which the petitioners alleged ‘will cause serious issues regarding maintenance of public order’. One of the petitioners also claimed that the certification was granted to the film illegally.

On Wednesday, the HC, however, refused to stop the release of the film. “Considering the petitioners themselves say they had knowledge about the trailers in November, 2024 coupled with depictions from a website deceptively similar to another with no demonstration of checks in place for authenticity of contents, it is a situation unsafe for us to rely on and interfere, when the film is to be released on Friday,” Acting Chief Justice Arindam Singha and Justice MS Sahoo observed.

Additional government advocate B Dash also submitted that the certifications were duly granted and the contents of the writ petitions do not reveal any substance for interference by this court. Deputy solicitor general Prasanna Kumar Parhi, representing Union of India, told the court that the film’s plot summary disclosed as part of the certificate issued by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) stated that it dealt with sacrifice, superstition and lack of education.

Following which, the bench said “We keep the writ petitions pending, to be listed on February 19, 2025, for them to inform us on reconsideration or that it is not necessary.”

Bijay Kandoi, the producer of the film, has long maintained that the film features no controversial practice or issue which may lead to any disharmony. They got UA certification from CBFC’s Mumbai office after the filmmaker complied with the suggestion to change the title from ‘Hey Ram: Karma Hi Dharma’ to ‘Sanatani: Karma Hi Dharma’ and edit some portions of the film directed by Basudev Bard.

“There is nothing against any religion in the film but religious conversions has been its focus. We have only shown what the reality is as far as conversions are concerned,” Sambit Acharya, the lead actor, earlier told TNIE.

Apart from conversion, social evils like witchcraft has been shown in the film, he added.