The mayor of Kathmandu, Nepal, has banned the screening of Indian films following controversy surrounding the movie “Adipurush.” The film, inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana, sparked criticism due to dialogue suggesting that the character Sita was born in India instead of Nepal. Mayor Balendra Shah initially warned against screening the film if the contentious section remained, resulting in the removal of the dialogue for Nepali audiences. However, since the film remained unchanged outside of Nepal, the mayor extended the ban as a protest. The ban is expected to have implications for the local film industry and the distribution of Indian films in Kathmandu. Discussions between Nepal and India are expected to address the concerns raised and seek a resolution respecting cultural sentiments.
