Pune: Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) on Monday criticised bans on films and threats against the film fraternity, adding they will support these films and encourage people to watch them.

MANS plans to bring a film director of one of the affected films to hold a panel discussion freedom of expression and motivate people not to fall prey to threats.

Taking a dig at the latest row over films like Padmavati, Nude, S Durga, etc., Avinash Patil, State Executive President of MANS, said, “Bans on works of art directly threatens the freedom of expression. We strongly oppose this parallel censorship and threats of violence to stop a film being released. In a democratic country, how can a community appeal to kill a filmmaker in public without facing any action in return?”

He also added that the films in question are mostly opposed because they have dared to showcase the stark reality of society. However, Patil added, “We don’t know about the content of the films. But everyone has the right to express and one can judge these films after they have been screened.”

Constitution Commitment Festival
MANS will celebrate Constitution Commitment Festival from Constitution Day, November 26 to Republic Day, January 26. It will distribute calendars, posters, stickers and Tricolour banners with the Constitution Preamble on them. A book bout the Constitution by Advocate Nirmalkumar Suryavanshi will also be published.