December 02, 2007	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 21, 1428

LUCKNOW: An Indian state has banned a film featuring Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit because it allegedly offends low-caste Hindus, an official said on Saturday. The government of India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh had objected to lyrics from the title song of the film in which Dixit — called the “dancing diva” for her graceful moves — plays a choreographer. The song has “derogatory and insulting remarks” about low-caste Hindus, said Shailesh Krishna, a senior aide to state chief minister Mayawati who has championed those on the lowest rung of India’s ancient caste hierarchy.

The government objected to what it said was a derogatory reference to cobblers, most of whom have traditionally been low-caste Hindus as upper castes refuse to touch leather for religious reasons.

Director Anil Mehta swiftly agreed to delete the controversial sentence. “It’s not our intention to hurt anybody. We have decided to delete that line right away,” he told reporters in Mumbai, India’s entertainment and financial capital.

A government spokesman was not immediately available for comment on Mehta’s promise. Called “dalits” which means “the oppressed,” low-caste Hindus make up 16 percent of India’s 1.1 billion population.

Though caste discrimination is banned, dalits face regular violence, abuse and ostracism in Hindu majority but officially secular India.

The film is expected to be a big draw as the US-based Dixit — who reigned Bollywood as one of the top actresses — returns to Bollywood after a six year absence.—AFP