MUMBAI: Days before Nitin Chandrakant Desai‘s film Ajintha is set to release, a group of nomads (banjaras) have protested against the contents of the film and have demanded that it not be cleared for release. This is the reason why the premiere of the film could not be held on Wednesday as scheduled.

The protestors have objected to the leading lady‘s dressing ways and have vehemently said that adivasis do not move around semi-naked as is shown in the film. They have also objected to a kissing scene just in front of a statue of Lord Buddha that they say "doesn‘t go well". In short, the nomads say that the film depicts their community in ‘poor light‘.

"The film does not show the real culture of banjaras," said Sanjiv Kumar Rathod who led the demonstration.

Rathod, who is incidentally a member of the CBFC advisory panel for Mumbai region, said the Board officials have assured them that their demands would be heard before the film is cleared.

The film, to be released on 11 May, relates the true love story of Major Robert Gill and a tribal Banjara girl named Paro. The film is set against the backdrop of the Ajanta caves.

A decision is awaited today.