Film title draws protest in Kashi

Varanasi: A group staged a protest at Ahilyabai Ghat on Friday against an upcoming film starring Manoj Bajpai, whose title and teaser caused an uproar among certain caste groups in the state and elsewhere.Led by Pawan Shukla, president of Vipra Samaj Kashi, the group performed a yajna on the banks of the Ganga and also raised slogans against those associated with the film. "This insult is unacceptable. If this film's name is not changed or it is not banned, a major yajna will be performed on the banks of the Ganga," Shukla said.The film's announcement earlier this week has sparked a storm on social media, with many users calling the title "casteist" and "offensive". The controversy has also led to the registration of an FIR at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow, while the NHRC has issued a notice to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting following a complaint. Some organisations have even warned of aggressive protests, claiming that the title is defamatory to a particular community.