By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 27: Even after deleting objectionable scenes in controversial drama, Pencil se Brush tak, a Hindu Right Wing Organisation has decided to continue its crusade against the play.
 
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti convenor Jayesh Thali in a statement released here has said that they will move to the court against the drama, which glorifies controversial painter M F Hussain as a person of good character and a patriotic citizen.
 
Last year, HJS had  filed several complaints against the painter objecting to his paintings degrading Hindu deities.
 
Thali said that the drama, which was staged at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai, had deleted objectionable parts but they retained the part which glorifies M F Hussain.
 
He said that the HJS had lodged several police complaints in various police stations against the drama  in Mumbai with regular follow ups. As a result,  the Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order)  K.L. Prasad, Dy. Commissioner  Srivastav and Senior  Police Inspector of Juhu Police Station  Dilip Katkade took cognizance of the matter.
 
“ Thereafter, the police called in a joint meeting of HJS’ delegation, the producers of the drama and the manager of Prithvi theatre, Sanjana Kapoor and brought to everyone’s notice the part of the drama that denigrates deities. Thereafter, this denigrating part of the drama was deleted,” Thali said.
 
According to him, the unedited version of the drama had a picture of naked Sree Krishna perched on a cow playing the flute, surrounded by naked Gopies.
 
“In the Ramleela scene, a male artist is shown playing Goddess Sita’s role and he mockingly refers to Sree Ram as ‘Swami’. A headless Lord Hanuman is shown in a blasphemous form. M.F. Hussain is stealthily looking at Hindu ladies bathing on the river. These were the objectionable parts of the drama which have been deleted,” Thali added.
 
The drama is produced by ‘Ekjoot’, an organisation owned by producer Nadira Baabar.
 
HJS said that this week, after police intervention, a revised version of the drama was screened at Prithvi Theatre under tight police protection.
 
“Although the objectionable denigrating part of this drama has been deleted, it portrays M.F. Hussain as a person of good character and a patriotic citizen. Thus, the HJS continues to oppose the same and is of the opinion that the drama should be cancelled. Thus, the HJS intends to move the court to effect the cancellation of the said drama,” Thali said.
 
The HJS earlier during International film festival of India 2008 had objected to the screening of documentary produced by the painter. The documentary which was initially deferred from screening, was later shown in the  festival at Goa.