CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani, who has become a self-proclaimed advocate of “Indian culture”, has reportedly refused to certify Jayan Cherian’s film on homosexuality — Ka Bodyscapes — again. No surprises there!
According to a Mid-Day report, an 18-member team of the CBFC had travelled to Thiruvananthapuram to view the film after Nihalani refused to certify it for several months. The Kerala High Court had issued a notice against him for refusing to certify the film. This was the fourth review for the Board in the last one year.
Speaking to the daily, the director expressed his anguish over Nihalani’s constant refusal since last year. “The members who watched it last Friday are divided in their opinion. Nine members are ready to pass it with a few cuts, but the rest don’t want to certify the film,” he said, adding that the CBFC’s attorney requested the court two weeks’ time to arrive at a conclusion and provide an explanation for the delay.
Meanwhile, a man named Chandra Mishra has posted on Facebook about wishing to ‘kill him (Cherian) or issue fatwa against him’ for portraying Lord Hanuman as a homosexual, according to Mid-Day. Silverscreen, however, could not independently verify this post.
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Ka Bodyscapes is set in Kerala’s Calicut city and follows the lives of three people: A struggling painter Haris who is gay; his love interest Vishnu, a village boy with a right-wing family; and a young woman factory worker Sia. The movie captures the volatile environment and growing fundamentalism in the South. The movie’s teaser was released in 2015.
Cherian is a notable feature filmmaker whose films have won international acclaim. Battling with the censor board is nothing new to him. His previous film, Papilio Buddha also ran into similar problems with the censor board. The movie revolves around a band of landless Dalits who turn to Buddhism to get rid of caste oppression. It was released in 2013.