“A certification board is acting as a Censor Board. I think there is a constant denial of what’s going on in the society”
–ZOYA AKHTAR
Anurag Kashyap’s relationship with the Censor Board has never been smooth. His films in the past have often got stuck at various stages, either by CBFC or legal courts. However, Udta Punjab’s deadlock has exceeded all limits with Kashyap openly declaring war against censorship.
The issue has definitely got murkier with Kashyap and CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani making serious allegations against each other. After the Censor Board suggested as many as 89 cuts in the movie, the Udta Punjab producer called Nihalani ‘oligrach and dictator’. In return, Nihalani accused Kashyap of taking money from political party AAP to malign image of the state of Punjab through his movie.
(Don’t Miss) Karan Johar lashes out: Bombay, Beef & now Punjab
However, Bollywood stood united against censorship. Film-makers Zoya Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt and many others held a joint press conference to criticise the Censor Board’s diktats.
“A certification board is acting as a Censor Board. I think there is a constant denial of what’s going on in the society. But freedom of expression is important. There are lot of scenes which have not been allowed where women are treated badly but I can’t stop it. Udta Punjab is our fight not only theirs,” Zoya Akhtar said during the conference in Mumbai.
Anurag Kashyap passionately put forth his view. “This is not the first time. We always have to fight with censor board and every time when the new government comes we think we will get support. When Mr. Pahlaj Nihalani came on board we had hope, but we had no guarantee that this will happen. First thing Pahlaj said was Monday the certificate was ready but he said no one came. Yesterday we sent a legal copy to their office. We don’t want such person on censor board. We don’t want cuts. We want to certify our films. We know our responsibility. I am against the Censor board. This is a fight of freedom of expression. One person can’t decide the morality of our country. The way Pahlaj Nihalani is acting towards this is very stressful and this is because of the attitude of the person sitting there. We are trying the film comes intact. We want the film to be released the same day and without any cuts,” he said.
Don’t Miss: Shyam Benegal to submit final report on revamp of the Censor Board on June 20
