Ketan Mehta's Rang Rasiya, based on Ranjit Desai's novel titled Raja Ravi Varma has been awaiting release over five years due to the lack of funds required for the release of this film based on our national icon. Raja Ravi Varma was not just the father of modern Indian art, but also India's most priced artist whose paintings would sell for as high as Rs 30 crores. He not just gave faces to the Gods of India, but also had the vision to own his own printing press, so that he could distribute prints of his paintings to millions of ordinary Indians. As a result, he made God accessible to the whole community of untouchables who, at that time, were not allowed into temples. While they could not enter temples, they could now own a Raja Ravi Varma print of their God and pray to them. He re-discovered our culture for us by painting the story of the Ramayana and Mahabharata that we know, he taught us how to wear the Indian sari, he gave us the faces of the Lakshmi and Saraswati we, over a billion Indians, pray to today, but most importantly, over a 100 years ago, he fought and stood for the freedom of expression. Ravi Varma died in 1906.

Over a 100 years later, we have now learnt that his granddaughter Indira Devi Kunjamma, who is based in Kerala, has sent a legal notice to Ketan Mehta, asking him to stop the release of the film on the grounds that Ketan Mehta has portrayed Raja Ravi Varma in an 'erotic' and 'playboy' manner. The notice further says that the film claims to be 'based on a true story' and that as seen from the trailer and the promos of the film, the intentions of the filmmaker is to lower the moral and intellectual character of Raja Ravi Varma.

Ketan confirmed having received the notice and talking to us, he said, “The film is not a true story, but is based on the novel written by Ranjit Desai, titled Raja Ravi Varma over 25 years ago. While the novel was originally written in Marathi, it has been translated in several languages, including English and Malayalam. The film has been ready for over five years and has been showcased at the Trivandrum Film Festival five years back. The promos and trailer have been available for over five years. Obviously, receiving a legal notice a week before the release of the film has mala fide intentions. Raja Ravi Varma is a national icon and I went through so many obstacles financially and emotionally over the last five years as I felt strongly about taking his powerful story to Indians across the globe. And as far as I am concerned, he was India's greatest artist, who I truly admire and this is my tribute to him. The man stood and fought for Freedom of Expression and won his case in the courts of India. I am saddened that his own descendants are objecting to what their own grandfather stood and fought for. The right to the freedom of expression.“

Jayantilal Gada, who is distributing the film, said, “We took Ketanji's film after verifying that it has a Censor certification and after seeing the film, and have no doubt that the story of this powerful Indian icon will reach over a billion Indians through this film. The premiere of the film was held in Gurgaon and Baroda and the response for the film and for the story of Raja Ravi Varma has been overwhelming. I am happy to show the film to his granddaughter if she would like to see it as she will understand the story of the visionary Raja Ravi Varma, told by one of our most honest and brilliant filmmakers in India. I am sure it will make her even more proud of her own heritage.“