The National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for censoring content depicting women and minors in ‘objectionable ways’, in the trailer of filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar‘s Marathi film, Nay Varan Bhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha.
The organization took to Twitter, mentioning that Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to “Secy, I&B Ministry to censor the trailer & sexually explicit scenes involving minors of upcoming Marathi film Nay Varan Bhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha.”
“NCW condemns the open circulation of such content involving minors on social media platforms,” the tweet further read.
According to ANI, the letter from the NCW read, “The National Commission for Women has received a complaint from Bharatiya Stree Shakti, Maharashtra on an upcoming Marathi film titled Nay Varan Bhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha which is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2022. The complaint alleges that the trailer of the film which was released on January 10, 2022 shows obscene content depicting women and minors in objectionable ways. The trailer is being circulated on social media platforms like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc without any age restrictions for viewers and hence is available even for minors to watch.”
Condemning the distribution of sexually explicit content that involves minors, on social media platforms, the NCW further stated, “Chairperson Ms Rekha Sharma has written to Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to immediately intervene in the matter and censor the trailer and the sexually explicit scenes of the movie.”
“The Commission has also asked to ensure that the sexually explicit scenes are not circulated openly on social media platforms. A copy of the letter has also been sent to Prasoon Joshi, Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification. The Commission has to be apprised about action taken in the matter at the earliest,” the letter concluded.
Manjrekar is yet to make a comment, regarding the same. The Marathi thriller drama is slated for release on January 14, 2022.
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Update: According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, the National Commission for Protection of Childs (NCPCR) has written to the Director-General of Police (DGP) Maharashtra and has asked for an FIR to be registered against the makers of the movie. The complaint states that the portrayal of minors committing illegal and unlawful acts in the trailer falls under Section 2(c) of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
The trailer allegedly also violates section 292 of the IPC, which deals with the production, distribution, and selling of obscene material, section 13 of the POCSO (Protection of Child From Sexual Offense) Act, 2012.
There is no official statement regarding the same from the makers. However, the trailer has been pulled down.