As Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat released on Thursday in the background of protests in many parts of northern India, the Supreme Court has laid the responsibility of controlling riots on State governments.

Live updates:

Hindu outfits stage protest in TN

Protests were staged by Hindu outfits and the Karni Sena in Chennai and Coimbatore on Thursday against the screening of Padmaavat.

Activists of Sri Ram Sena and Hindu Sena protested in front of Sathyam Cinemas in Chennai, where the film was released, amid tight police security. Holding banners, they shouted slogans against the filmmakers claiming it was a wanton attempt by those with “vested interests” to show native, historical Indian icons in poor light. They wanted the State government to ban the movie.

Multiplex owner thrashed in U.P.

Sanjay Agarwal, owner of SCM multiplex in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, was beaten up on Thursday, allegedly by a group of activists opposing the screening of the film.

His BMW car was also damged, police said.

Watching 'Padmaavat' is individual choice: Margaret Alva

Former Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva has said that the decision to watch the film should be left to individuals. India was not a country that got scared, she added.

“I go with the Supreme Court’s decision, which has asked the States to maintain law and order. What if the film is not being screened here, it is released in the country and those who want to see the film would go to other States to see it and those who do not want to see would not go,” she told reporters at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Movie opens in Kolkata, shows running smoothly

’Padmavaat’ shows are running smoothly everywhere in Kolkata, with no sign of protest anywhere, a police officer said, adding that elaborate security arrangements were in place.

“The film is running in 129 theatres, including single-screens and multiplexes, in Kolkata and its surrounding areas and there is no report of any disruption as yet,” a spokesperson of SVF, the distributor of the film, said.

Digvijaya Singh says movies that hurt religious sentiments shouldn't be made

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has said films that hurt religious sentiments of people and which are not based on historical facts should not be made.

Kejriwal says forces that came after 'Muslims and Dalits' are now after children

The forces that “killed Muslims and burnt Dalits” are now “intruding into our homes, coming after our children”, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said.

Condemning the attack on a schoobus by a mob protesting the release of Padmaavat in Gurugram, Mr. Kejriwal said it was imperative to “speak up” against “divisive forces” as people cannot afford to remain silent anymore like “they were” when Muslims and Dalits were targeted in the country in the past.

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Pakistan censor board clears 'Padmaavat' without cuts

The Pakistan censor board has cleared Padmaavat without any cuts for screening in the country.

Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) chairman Mobashir Hasan took to the social media to announce that the film has been passed by the board.

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Supreme Court to hear pleas against 3 States, Karni Sena for violence

Security outside Delite Cinema in Delhi where 'Padmaavat' is being screened. | Photo Credit: V. Sudershan

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear pleas for initiating contempt of court action against the Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan governments and Karni Sena members for aggravated incidents of violence, even against schoolchildren, in the background of release of Padmaavat.

The petitions filed by activist Tehseen Poonawala and Supreme Court advocate Vineet Dhanda described the destruction caused to public property, theatre premises and how suspected members of the Karni Sena pelted stones at a bus carrying school children in Gurugram.

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No 'Padmaavat' in Gujarat, Rajasthan

Violent protests against Padmaavat in Gujarat and Rajasthan on Wednesday, a day before the film’s release on Thursday, forced the Multiplex Association of India to decide against screening the period drama in the two States.

Incidents of violence were also reported from towns and cities in Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu, where protesters torched buses, blocked highways and created a ruckus outside theatres.

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(With inputs from PTI)