In another logic-defying move, the CBFC has asked for the removal of three words from Dakxin Chahhra’s Hindi movie, Sameer. The three words are ‘Mann Ki Batt’, and used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address to citizens. The words have no correlation with obscenity, defamation, or religious sentiments.
The CBFC is ordinarily required to cite relevant subsections from the Cinematograph Act to justify its decision.
According to a report in the Mid Day, in one scene, the protagonist (played by Zeeshan Mohamed) looks at the lead character and says, “Ek mann ki baat kahoon? Tum character accha bana lete ho!” The lead responds with, “Waise sir, chai se ch***ya banana aap hi se seekha hai!”
The CBFC has been forgiving enough to allow the expletive in the second line. Director Dakxin told Mid-Day, “They categorically asked for the words ‘Mann ki baat’ to be removed from the first sentence. When I approached the Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, he told me: PM ka radio show hai, delete the line.”
Director of the movie, Dakxin Chahhra (Picture Courtesy: Mid Day)
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Chahhra also said that they were not given an oral hearing by the board members, which is mandatory. “The Board, despite granting us an ‘A’ (adults only) certificate, asked for certain scenes involving torture, and bomb blast, to be chopped mercilessly. If we comply, the impact of those scenes would be lost altogether,” he said.
Sameer is based on the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts and stars Anjali Patil and Seema Biswas.
Dakxin plans to legally challenge the Censor Board’s decision. The CBFC chief, Pahlaj Nihalani, has thus far been unavailable for comment to media outlets.
Picture Courtesy: Mid Day and Indian Express