Mumbai: Echoing a song in the movie 'Rockstar', slogans like 'Free Tibet, sadda haq' and 'Free Tibet, Our Right' by Tibetans filled the air in Mumbai Friday as the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer opened in theatres.
They were venting their ire against the censor board's order to blur the words 'Free Tibet' from the Tibetan flags shown a sequence in Imtiaz Ali's musical thriller.
"It's was a symbolic protest against the decision of the censor board's decision," Dorjee Tseten, students for a Free Tibet-India (SFT) national director, told IANS.

Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri's much awaited movie 'Rockstar' opens this Friday. (Text from IANS)

Ranbir Kapoor's role as the reluctant but ruthless politician in hit political thriller 'Raajneeti' earned him a lot of praise, but his 'Anjaana Anjaani' failed to garner the same response.

Now the young actor is hoping to make a mark with 'Rockstar', releasing Friday, where his character goes through various shades.

The film has been directed by Imtiaz Ali - who is known for movies like - 'Jab We Met' and 'Love Aaj Kal'.

The musical drama with Delhi as its backdrop tells the story of Janardhan Jakhar (Ranbir), a Jat boy living in the middle-class locality of Pitampura who dreams of becoming a famous rockstar like Jim Morrison.

He tries hard to prove himself as a singer but instead of appreciating him, the audiences ridicule and humiliate him.

While contemplating his failed attempts, it occurs to Janardhan that most of the famous musical stars have something in common - tragedy.

So, Janardhan, who is leading a happy life, decides to bear pain to become a well-known singer.

He approaches Heer Kaul (Nargis Fakhri), who is rich, beautiful and arrogant. She has broken many hearts. Hoping she will break his heart too, Janardhan starts following her.

The story then moves forward as the happy-go-lucky boy leaves behind Janardhan and becomes Jordan after going through various ups and downs in life.

His transformation from a simple naive individual to a tortured soul, from a college campus in Delhi to the international stage.

His fulfils his dream, but in his quest for fame he loses his heart forever.

Ranbir is said to have left no stone unturned to make his character believable on the screen.

From learning to play the guitar to staying with a Jat family and from eating at local dhabas to milking cows - the 29-year-old did all to bring authenticity in his character.

Co-produced by Eros International and Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, the film, made on a budget of more than Rs 60 crore, has been extensively shot in Delhi in locations like St Stephen's College, Connaught Place and Nizamuddin, among others.

One of the songs that mark the turning point in the film has been shot in the Nizamuddin dargah.
Some portions of the film have also been shot in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Mumbai.
Imtiaz also shot the film offshore -- in the Czech Republic and Italy.

The music, composed by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, is already a rage and the promos of the film have received a positive response.

Ranbir and Imtiaz have been extensively promoting the film with city tours. The team was recently part of the concert where both Rahman and Ranbir performed live on stage for their fans. They are also planning a show in Kashmir and London.

'Rockstar' will introduce two new faces to the Indian film industry -- Pakistani-American model Nargis will be seen for the first time as Ranbir's love interest.

And it will also launch Brazil based Moufid Aziz, born to parents of Portuguese and Arabic origin.

The extensive promotions of the movie has garnered ample interest - here's hoping the movie is a hit.

Beijing is quite sensitive to the issue as it sees that the usage of the flag indicates separatism.
SFT is a Dharamsala-headquartered group of the Tibetan exiles.
Dressed in T-shirts supporting Tibet and Tibetan flags, a group of Tibetans gathered outside the Cinemax in Lokhandwala in Mumbai to stage a protest. Later, they also watched the film.
The song 'Sadda Haq' was filmed in the Norbulingka Institute near Dharamsala. Following the censor board's directive, the film's director blurred the words from the flag. This has disappointed thousands of Tibetans living in India.
Tibetan writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue, who also participated in the Mumbai protest, said, "It was an injustice with the exiled community whose brothers and sisters in Tibet are facing repression from the Chinese. It was an occasion to highlight their plight."
'Rockstar' is the journey of a musician who leaves his happy life to achieve success as a singer. The film ran into controversy after a scene showed fans waving free Tibet flags as Ranbir sings the song 'Saada Haq'.
A delegation of Tibetans from Dharamsala met censor board CEO Pankaja Thakur in Mumbai Wednesday on its decision.
"Unfortunately this single opportunity to see a 'Free Tibet' banner in a mainstream Hindi film has been banned," Tseten added.
Angry Tibetan activists have already staged rallies across the country.
The Dalai Lama along with many of his supporters fled Tibet and took refuge in India when Chinese troop moved in and took control of Lhasa in 1959. He then headed a Tibetan government-in-exile which never won recognition from any country.
India is home to around 100,000 Tibetans.
Beijing is quite sensitive to the issue as it sees that the usage of the flag indicates separatism.
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