Weeks after getting stuck in legal trouble, ZEE5’s controversial documentary on gangster Lawrence Bishnoi may finally see the light of day but with a new title.
The docu-series, earlier called Lawrence of Punjabwas supposed to release in April. But just days before streaming, the Centre stepped in with an advisory, saying the show could create law-and-order problems in Punjab.
Now, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has set aside that advisory and cleared the way for release.
The court, however, asked the makers to remove both “Lawrence” and “Punjab” from the title.
During the hearing, Zee Entertainment’s lawyer Amit Jhanji told the court that neither “Lawrence Bishnoi” nor “Punjab” would be used in the new title. That appears to have opened the door for the documentary’s release.
The court also watched the series and reportedly said it did not seem to glorify any person.
Related: ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ streaming paused over public order fears
The show had earlier faced opposition from Punjab Advocate General M S Bedi and Congress leader Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who argued it could influence young viewers by normalising organised crime.
According to the makers, the documentary “traces the journey of a criminal identity through the lens of culture, systems and visibility” and looks at Bishnoi as a case study tied to student politics, music and media attention.
The original title was also seen as a nod to the Oscar-winning film Lawrence of Arabia.
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