India court blocks release of film on pink sari vigilantes

An Indian court on Wednesday blocked the release of a Bollywood movie after a woman complained the film was based on her life and gang of pink sari-clad women vigilantes, reports said. The Delhi High Court said "Gulaab (Pink) Gang" would not be released at least until after the next hearing on May 8, following charges by activist Sampat Pal that the film-makers had not sought her permission to make the movie which she said would malign her reputation. Pal's Gulaabi Gang -- famed for their pink saris and sticks -- battles for women's rights across a handful of districts in the poverty-stricken northern state of Uttar Pradesh, tackling domestic violence, dowry disputes, child marriage and other forms of abuse. Judge Sanjeev Sachdeva said the film's release would cause "irreparable damage and injury" to Pal's reputation, "which cannot be calculated in terms of money", according to news agency the Press Trust of India. The 56-year-old founder and leader of the Gulaabi Gang told AFP last month: "If they don’t ask for permission, we won’t let it release." The movie, Gulaab Gang, stars Juhi Chawla as a politician and Madhuri Dixit as Rajjo -- alleged to depict Pal -- who fights for the education of young girls. The women who support Rajjo all wear pink, much like Pal's Gulaabi Gang. There was no immediate comment available from film director Soumik Sen. But in February he told AFP his movie was "a work of fiction". Last month Pal attended the opening of an award-winning documentary on her Gulaabi Gang in the city of Mumbai.