MUMBAI: Amid protests against
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film
Padmavati, the Indian Films and TV Directors' Association (
IFTDA
), along with 20 other bodies of the film and television industry, is planning a 15-minute blackout in support of the film and "to protect the right to freedom of expression of creative individuals".
Four versions of the Padmavati legend Ashoke Pandit of IFTDA said: "We will keep showing our support for the film 'Padmavati' and also for SLB (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) as it is the basic right of a creative person to be able to tell a story in his own way.
"Sanjay is a responsible filmmaker, and making a film on history is not something easy for him but a big responsibility. To express our solidarity (with the film), we are gathering on Sunday for a 15-minute blackout where all shooting units in Mumbai will put off lights and no shootings will take place."
Critics of the move felt it was too little. They said Sunday was a part holiday for the industry in any case, and unions had resorted to strikes over workers' wages and entertainment tax. TNN & agencies
. Kannan Nayar, the film's lead actor, said that copies and censor papers would be submitted to Tandon's office.