The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay the March 29 release of the film Ram Ki Janmabhoomi or direct early listing of a plea seeking a ban on the movie.

A bench of Justices S.A. Bobde and Abdul Nazeer rejected the plea of advocate Lily Thomas, the petitioner, that the film’s release be stayed since the top court’s order for mediation of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute is underway in Faizabad.

Justice Bobde, heading the bench, did not accept the argument that the film would affect the mediation process.

“What is the connection between the movie and the mediation? No film can come in the way of the mediation. We are not so pessimistic that a film will stall the meditation process,” Justice Bobde said.

The bench said Thomas’s petition would come up in the normal course and there would be no urgent hearing.

Ram Ki Janmabhoomi stars veteran actors Govind Namdeo and Manoj Joshi. The story has been credited to Waseem Rizvi, who is also one of the producers. The film, whose trailer released in November, is directed by Sanoj Mishra.