Can any Bollywood’s attempt at depicting reality be without its share of controversy? Doesn’t seem too likely, when even a not-so-talked-about film manages to attract the ire of someone.

This time around, Kader Khan’s attempt at depicting the sacrifice made by 72 Muslims in Karbala, in a film titled “Karbala”, to protect Islam has managed to displease the Lucknow-based All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB), which has now urged the Centre to impose a ban on the making of such a film.

The board has written a letter to the PM and I&B minister appealing to them to stop its production keeping in view the sentiments of Muslims. Also, representatives of the board said that they will be staging a protest outside the Vidhan Sabha today where they even plan to burn an effigy of Kader Khan, to bring home their grievance.

Says Maulana Yasoob Abbas, the spokesperson for the AISPLB, “Both the Sunnis and the Shias are united in their hurt at this attempt by Bollywood to depict the Karbala massacre on the big screen. I have been getting letters from all over the world, asking us to do something about this film.

Nobody is okay with Kader Khan’s attempt. Aap hi samajhiye, har cheez ki jagah hoti hai. Jo cheez hum log ek pak jagah, ek masjid ya imaambara mein dekhna chahte hain, jisme saamne hum sajda karte hain, wahi cheez ko log theatre mein dekhenge popcorn khaate hue! Muslims have great reverence for that extraordinary act of sacrifice, Athar said making a film on such a sensitive issue would hurt the feelings of crores of Muslims.”

Not just the token protest in Lucknow, the AISPLB plans to eventually stage another protest in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan area. “We have even written to the Mumbai police commissioner, asking him to take steps against the film’s eventual screening. we will use all measures necessary to stop the film,” promises Maulana Abbas.