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Censor Board reduced to a rubber stamp

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CBFC

Rapid developments in the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) are clearly indicative of big changes to come in censorship policies. For now, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has taken direct charge of certification and is ensuring that no producer’s film is subjected to radical or even nominal cuts. Apparently disgruntled producers have now taken the Information & Broadcasting route to bypass the censor board. Many producers of films with objectionable content like Mastizaade, Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 & something called Miss Teacher which is a graphic story of a nymphomaniac teacher, have all been cleared due to the direct intervention of the Information & Broadcasting ministry, as the producers of the above films “complained” to the Information & Broadcasting ministry when the Censor Board of Film Certificate asked for cuts in the lurid & obscene content. These films were passed after the Information & Broadcasting ministry’s direct intervention. The Censor Board of Film Certificate has been told not to cut scenes or dialogues in these films. And now more & more filmmakers are running to the Information & Broadcasting ministry with complaints against Censor Board of Film Certificate’s cuts and getting them restored. The Censor Board of Film Certificate finds itself reduced to a helpless pawn. Censor Board had issued 34 cuts in Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 along with a tag of an ‘A’ certificate.

While it’s an obvious decision to issue an ‘A’ certificate to India’s 1st porn – com Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, it isn’t surprising to see the Censor Board take a step further and issue a few more cuts besides the certification. Keeping in mind the stringent rules of the board, the censor authorities have chopped off 34 scenes from the film terming them to be vulgar or obscene for adults. Words like ‘orgasm’, a scene of a woman shaking her breasts have been deleted, the name ‘Horny Singh’ is replaced with Mickey Singh, an orgasmic scene is chopped down from 30 seconds to 8 seconds are some of the changes that audiences will witness when the film is released on the celluloid silver screen. In fact, a major portion from the song ‘Oh Boy’ has also been asked to be deleted as the censors believe that the dance steps indicate masturbation. Also, one of the popularly known films Kick which was named as Dick (a spoof used as a porn film in Kya Kool Hain Hum 3) has now been renamed to Lick. Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures & ALT Entertainment, and directed by Umesh Ghadge, Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 stars Tusshar Kapoor, Aftab Shivdasani, Mandana Karimi, Giselle Thakral amongst others. The film is slated to release on 22nd Jan, 2016.

Kamal Haasan To Join Shyam Benegal On Special Censor Committee

Earlier this month, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry had appointed a special committee headed by the filmmaker Shyam Benegal, to suggest measures to help the Censor Board members understand the nuances of film certification. The latest news on this front is that actor – filmmaker Kamal Haasan will also be joining the committee. Apparently, this addition comes after the Ministry felt that more regions of the country should be given representation on the panel, suggesting that along with Hassan, directors Shaji Karun & Gautam Ghosh should also be included on it. Once appointed the trio will join the other members of the committee that includes filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey & film journalist Bhawana Somayaa.

An interview with Pahlaj Nihlani the new chairman of Central Board Of Film Certification

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“The Film Industry Should See The Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) As A Friend, Not As A Hostile Force.” – Pahlaj Nihalani

Pahlaj Nihalani. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

Pahlaj Nihalani. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

Pahlaj Nihalani, the reputed filmmaker, needs no special introduction as far as his filmmaking repertoire is concerned. But of late he has come in for a lot of flak since the time he has been appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC). On this account Pahlaj Nihalani averred in clarification, “Maybe some people don’t like that I have restored transparency in the censor board. I can’t comment on what someone in the censor board thinks to be right or wrong. All I can tell very categorically is that I have been working within the Information & Broadcasting Ministry & Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) guidelines.” Even otherwise 2 members of the Censor Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) Ashoke Pandit & Dr. Chandraprakash Diwedi have leveled serious charges of autocratic functioning against Pahlaj Nihalani. Both of them have expressed their dissatisfaction by categorically stating that the Government is not pleased with the cuss – word ban by Censor Board, can take action. Here in this free wheeling interactive session Pahlaj Nihalani clarifies his stance.

One of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) board member Ashoke Pandit has leveled some very serious charges against you. Do you think it was right on the part of Ashoke Pandit to go public with his grievances?

Frankly speaking I can’t comment on what someone in the censor board thinks what is right or what is wrong. All I can tell you very categorically is that I have been working within the Information & Broadcasting Ministry & Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) guidelines. Maybe so far the censor board has been functioning in a different way. And now some people don’t like the fact that I have restored discipline & transparency in the workings of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) and its  circular banning cuss words put on hold.

The protesters in the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) say that your style of working is tyrannical?

But It is my duty to do my job to the best of my abilities. As long as I am the chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) I won’t compromise on my work and I won’t buckle under pressure just because some people are uncomfortable with my style & way of working.

Do you think it was right of Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) board members to go public with their grievances?

I don’t want to comment on any individual. But if anyone chooses to go public with the grievances against a Governmental organization, then he or she is working against the interests of the Government. It’s therefore ethically & legally wrong of them.

Has the Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore been informed about the revolt within the censor board?

If I answer that I would be doing exactly what these other board members are doing. Let me just say that the Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore is a very smart & an intelligent person. He knows exactly what people are doing and those who are going against the guidelines are definitely brought to his notice. For instance Central Board Of Film Certification’s – CBFC rifts (spilt) in the open.

Ashoke Pandit also claims that you see every film on your own and decide what is to be done?

Firstly, as the chairperson I have a right to either watch films personally as and how I want, or depute someone from the censor board to watch it. If so far, my predecessors have not been watching films personally, they were in the wrong. If I am doing the right thing now, if I am clearing as many as 5 films in 1 day, why are some members of the censor board getting jittery?

Your working method has diminished the chances of corrupt practices?

For the 1st time in the existence of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC), I scheduled 5 films to be watched by the Revising Committee on the same day. Never before has the censor board watched more than 1 film on any given day. Is that not a good thing? We went out of the way of our schedule by censoring ‘NH10’ as we didn’t want to delay their 13th Mar, 2015 release.

Both disgruntled board members Ashoke Pandit & Dr. Chandraprakash Diwedi have accused you of being unfair to NH10?

Unfair? After seeing the film audiences are laughing at such accusations. We have gone out of our way to retain the violent flavor of the film. We have censored the film according to the script’s demand. That’s how every film will be censored. We only changed the dialogues a bit. I am a producer & a director myself. I know what cuts can be made without affecting the narrative. I wonder how Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) board members commented on the picture without seeing it.

Even the film’s producers including Anushka Sharma have been voicing protests against the CBFC?

After the film was censored the producers & the directors said they were satisfied with the cuts. They had appealed to us not to cut certain scenes. All of us 9 members conceded to their appeal for the sake of their creativity. We will deal with every film on an individual basis. ‘NH10’ needed the violence. The social message is quite clear and very strong here. The producers were happy. I don’t know if some of the Central Board Of Film Certification  (CBFC) board members are unhappy.

Are you saying that Ashoke Pandit & Dr. Chandraprakash Diwedi have commented on your censoring of ‘NH10’ without seeing the film?

If they had seen the film they wouldn’t have said what they had to. I don’t know what they are talking about. From the day I have taken over as chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) they have ganged up against me. Without the permission from the Information & Broadcasting ministry they have been publicly commenting on the internal workings of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC).

What would you say in your defense?

I don’t have to defend myself against such absurd charges. From the day I took over as the chairperson of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) I have respected the opinion of each & every member of my censor board. I value their opinion. They have toiled hard to clear the backlog of films to be censored. We have cleared all applications for censorship till 4th Mar, 2014. Even the promotional clippings will now be cleared within 24 hours. The film industry should see the CBFC as a friend, not as a hostile force.

How do you plan to deal with the revolt?

By doing my duty and working honestly. I am not bothered with the naysayers. My work will speak for itself. As for the protesters, they are violating the rules of the Information & Broadcasting ministry by working against the interest of the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC). The Ministry will decide what to do with them.

Nasheman.in exclusive: A controversial & clarifying interview with producer & director Suneel Kumar

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“I Am Trying To Assemble 300 Small Time Filmmakers Under 1 umbrella (Read Association) To Be Headed By Veteran Filmmaker Pahlaj Nihlani.” – Suneel Kumar

Suneel Kumar

Suneel Kumar maybe a small time filmmaker who has made mostly “B” & “C” grade films. But he has no qualms on being labelled as a “B” & “C” grade filmmaker as he strongly feels that it is the so called “B” & “C” grade films that are largely successful at the box office turnstiles, so what if they run successfully in “B” & “c” grade centres only, the smaller pockets of the distribution sectors of the interior territories. Besides these small films fetch enough coins at the box office turnstiles which feeds 100’s of families of the technical crews. But Suneel Kumar also laments the fact that the small films do not get their due recognition in all aspects & respects. Not only this there is not even a single umbrella (Read Association) protection to safeguard their varied interests.

So what according to you are the main grievances of the small time filmmakers?

The main grievances of us, small time filmmakers is that there is no one to listen to us. There is not even one umbrella (Read Association) to voice our opinions, no one to take heed of our problems, our difficulties in varied aspects & respects.

Kindly elaborate!

To give you a specific example. You see I have made many low budget films. And all of them were released in the single theaters of Mumbai circuits as well as the other circuits @ the All India Level. In the earlier times all the distributors used to take a keen interest in picking up such projects on outright basis at a good price. Then came the trend of releasing them on a joint profit sharing basis with Minimum Guarantee (MG). And now the tables have turned completely as now the distributors, sometimes in connivance with the exhibitors too, have started the trend of releasing the film only at our expense. So now we small time filmmakers have to shell out an additional budget of publicity (materials cost too), promotions and even the theater hire charges (Read Exhibitors) and to top it we do not even get any revenue from the music rights & the satellite rights as the doors of this 2 avenues are closed for us forever. Today the situation has become such that if the making cost is 5 lacs, we end up spending another 5 lacs on other miscellaneous expenses that I have just mentioned above. And after all this we consider ourself lucky if we end up making a marginal profit of just 1 lakh. And if our film becomes a runaway hit, which is very rare nowadays, than that proves to be a Bumper Bonus, almost akin to a Double Bonanza for us. Not only this now we also have to deal with the changing censor guidelines from time to time.

And pray what is that?

Oh! That is one more ailing situation that we small time filmmakers have to face. As the morality conscious Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) feels itself so duty bound that it keeps changing its censor guidelines, to protect public morality, from time to time sometimes without even any prior intimation. And needless to say the CBFC members are very harsh with us small time filmmakers.

How come?

I will cite a latest example. My recently released film was ‘Yeh Figure Hai’. And the film’s title goes with its theme. But the censor board had asked me to chop off all the semi clad shots of a female figure. Then you tell me what would have remained in the finally chopped off movie. I really had a trying time in convincing them not to mar my film in this distorted fashion. Now what are these guidelines wherein a so called male nudity (Read semi – nude) in a recently released film is passed without even batting an eyelid and for a semi – clad female nudity a lot of hullabaloo and even societal eyebrows are raised. And in the end it is the cine goers who feel cheated as they cannot enjoy the semi – clad nudity scenario either on the big screen as the censors chop off their visual delight and they can’t do so by feasting their eyes on the wall posters or even the filmy trade magazines as the Information & Broadcasting ministry has decided to slam it with hammer & tongs.

Are small time filmmakers facing any other problems?

Earlier we used to give manual prints of our films processed in a film laboratory. But now with the advent of the digitized release through UFO, Cube, UMW, K. Sera Sera et al we are facing more problems. Earlier the manual print cost was more but now we find that releasing the film through this above mentioned digitised medium is exorbitant. Not to forget about their high handed tantrums & the non – preferential treatment that they mete out to us over big films.

Anything more that you would like to add on?

Oh! Yes of course, the latest ordinance passed by the Government (Read The Information & Broadcasting Ministry). As now they have become the watchdogs over the semi – nude advertisement that we release in Filmy trade Magazines to promote our films nay to lure the cine goers to the cinema halls which used to boost the collections on the box office turnstiles. So what are we supposed to do as we are trapped from both sides (Read CBFC & I & B Ministry) with no way to escape from any loopholes whatsoever.

So are the small time filmmakers taking any steps to wriggle out of these dire situations that they are facing from all sides?

Yes! Of course we are striving very hard to improve our precarious situation. On a close knit survey I discovered that there are almost 300 small time filmmakers who are suffering including me. I am making all the efforts to assemble all of them under 1 umbrella (Read Association) hopefully & probably to be headed by none other than veteran filmmaker Pahlaj Nihlani, who is now also the new chair person of the Central Board 0f Film Certification. I am sure that under his tutelage & expertise oriented guidance we will surely & definitely solve all our ailing problems galore.

Lets hope for the best and now tell us are you contented with your filmic journey as a small time filmmaker so far?

For that you have to travel with me in the time frame of the year 1991. Almost a runaway lad had arrived & landed in the Bollywoodian capital with starry dreams in his eyes. He struggled a lot and was soon to be clubbed as an extra in crowded sequences, sensing danger he fled and started his struggle all over again, this time as a filmmaker and very soon he gained prominence as a small time filmmaker. So the small time filmmaker that’s me had finally arrived by making his own gem of 2 small screen serials and a few small time big screen films in Hindi, Bhojpuri, chattisgarhi et al. So yes the answer is an emphatic YES I am fully & totally satisfied with my filmic journey as a small time filmmaker. Period!

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