Written By Bharati K Dubey Mumbai Published: January 13, 2018 12:33 pm 5502 reads 0 comments
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has decided to ban Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati, which has been renamed Padmaavat. There are other states also mulling over banning the film. Instead of offering protection to the film and theatre owners as a head of the state, Raje has banned Padmaavat only to safeguard her Rajput vote bank. Nearly one month after its scheduled release date, the film has finally been granted an 'A' certificate by the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification), but politicians and fringe elements are still hellbent on stopping the release of the film across India.
On this, former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani said, "People are talking about democracy. Is this democracy around us? If the state cannot guarantee protection to ensure smooth release of a film that has been certified, how can they rule the state?''
The film bodies are shocked as well at what is happening with Bhansali's films and fear throttling of creative expression of filmmakers. Kulmeet Makkar, CEO of the Film and Television Producers Guild, said, "It will be a sad day if the sanctity of the certificate issued by CBFC is questioned or disrespected. The film has already gone through various difficult tests and now, when a statutory body like CBFC has decided to issue a certificate to the film then there should be no further roadblocks of any manner, including perceived law and order situation. The apex court in the past has also made it clear that films once certified by CBFC should not be prevented from the public exhibition by state governments, citing law and order reasons etc. In fact, states are duty bound to provide security to cinema halls to ensure smooth release of the film.''
It maybe recalled here that Prakash Jha's Aarakshan found it difficult to release in certain states even after the film was cleared by FCAT. Ameet Naik, who represented Jha, said, "Supreme Court's diktat is clear that the CBFC is the expert statutory body to certify films to be fit for public exhibition. It is now a settled position of law that state authorities cannot dictate a ban on films certified by CBFC and thereby, violate the fundamental rights. In the landmark Judgment of Aarakshan, the apex court held that it is not open for the state to pre-suppose an action whereby there would be a breach in law and order, and thereby, restrict exhibition of a cinematographic films, more so when the statutory body constituted for censor certification has granted the right to exhibit such film. In fact, the state authorities are liable to beef up their machinery and ensure that law and order be maintained. It is unfortunate that in a vibrant democracy like ours, state authorities are issuing ban on a film, completely contrary to the settled law laid down by the Supreme Court
Senior journalist Bharathi Pradhan accuses Raje of supporting the opposition. Bharathi said, "Vasundhara Raje seems to be batting for the opposition, as she's been imperiously taking decisions that only make her more and more unpopular. Banning Padmaavat, despite a censor nod and a change in the title, is her latest unethical move. I hope Bhansali takes her to the court for it, and I hope he and the film get justice. Otherwise, it'll be a sad phase for cinema if this sets a trend, where each state does its own censorship over and above that of the CBFC."
Bharathi fears that this scenario may become a habit with the netas. She adds, "It's a contagious affliction, where if one neta gets away with it unchallenged, more will follow. If not today, then tomorrow for sure, depending on who wants to play politics with a film. It must be nipped in the bud before it becomes a full-blown epidemic. What's the censor board for if politicians start deciding what each state should watch? "
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit feels that we as a society are heading towards a disastrous time. He said, "The government has given free hand to the fringe elements to decide how the country is going to function. The government feels cinema is not important to them though we are the industry which gives them maximum revenues."
When told that in the film industry people don't stand up for themselves. Pandit reacted strongly, "Who will stand up for themselves? Do they want to die in this culture of goondaism. One cannot understand if there is a protest, the issues can be resolved through debate, but here they are burning effigies. We cannot come on the streets and fight like them.''
Cultural terrorism and political terrorism is not new to Indian society. Film critic Dilip Thakur said, "Way back in the '60s when the Shiv Sena started their anti-South Indian campaign, Neetu Singh's film Do Kaliyaan was pulled out of cinemas as it was produced by Gemini Studios. Later they protested against a scene in the film Samajh Ko Badal Daalo, where a saffron flag was shown in a scene. I also remember a film Prabhat, directed by Ram Dayal, faced the ire of the right wing as the characters were named Ram and Sita, the latter being a prostitute.''
The theatres in 1993 had to withdraw films that featured AK Hangal only because the senior actor had visited Pakistan. Bal Thackeray and his party forced theatre owners to delete scenes of some of his films, including Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja.
During the Congress regime, especially during the emergency, the then Information and Broadcasting minister Vidyacharan Shukla issued a notification to reduce action sequences in films. Manoj Kumar's Dus Numbari faced problems because of that. Gulzar's Aandhi was also banned as it was alleged to have taken inspiration from Indira Gandhi's life. Aamir Khan's Fanaa didn't find a release in Gujarat because the actor made a statement in favourof Narmada Bachao Andolan, which got him into trouble with the then chief minister Narendra Modi.
One can also not forget what happened to Shah Rukh Khan's My Name Is Khan, when SRK spoke in favour of having Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premiere League.
25 Jan 
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