Are we a punching bag? : Vidya Balan

Asks 'The Dirty Picture' star Vidya Balan as the film's Silk route to TV screens met with a roadblock on Sunday even as other offensive content continues to make waves

Her screen avatar, Silk, took on the establishment and prevalent social mores in "The Dirty Picture". In real life, Vidya Balan is no less feisty and reacted strongly to the information and broadcasting ministry directive that forced Sony TV to yank the film off a prime time world premiere at the last minute. The channel was supposed to telecast "TDP" at 12 noon and 8 pm on Sunday.

"It defies logic when the same government body that has honoured a film with three National Awards is now calling for the film not to be broadcast on national television! What is even more astounding is that the censor board, which has cleared the film for television broadcast, is under the aegis of the very same government body! I do hope that better sense prevails and that the film industry is not once again used as a convenient high-profile punching bag for anyone looking to establish their moral credentials," said Vidya when CT got in touch with her.

The film had been subjected to 59 cuts so that it could be given a U/A certification and shown on TV. What apparently became a deterrent were two PILs filed against the film in Lucknow and Nagpur. Significantly, the existing Cable Network Act says that objectionable stuff cannot be telecast on prime time, a slot given to "The Dirty Picture" leaving no option for the channel but to telecast the movie only past 11 pm.

While those like Karan Johar have spoken out against double standards, others have a problem with how certain controversial and sensual ads are still beamed on television. Bappi Lahiri, whose "Oh la la" from this movie has fetched him at least five awards this year, describes this as an unfortunate incident. "Children today watch everything and it's the parents who want to live in denial. I don't find any justification behind not screening "TDP" after it went through 59 cuts. I understand that Indian culture needs to be respected but the film did not have too many offensive scenes. It had some dialogues that were adult in content," he said. Finger at moral cops

If one could go snip-snip on them, it would be just right for viewing on television. Don't we see so many item numbers in film promos? This film won National Awards. It was a super-duper hit. The songs are so successful. How can something like this be allowed to happen in India now?"

Rajesh Sharma, who plays Vidya's mentor in the film, doesn't want to judge this movie by the same parameters as one would judge a condom ad. "I have no problems with condom and sanitary napkin ads being shown on prime time. But yes, I understand that if the original version of "TDP" was screened, it would have been provocative. It's the same thing with the "Hate Story" promos. But after 59 cuts if "TDP" was not allowed to be beamed on prime time, I'm sure there is some politicking at work."

Arya Banerjee, the daughter of Pt Nikhil Banerjee who shared the screen with Vidya in the "Honeymoon ki raat" song from the movie, is apprehensive about what remains in the movie after the eight-and-a-half minute long cuts. Says Arya, "I am just not fine with some of the ads and even programmes shown in the name of news on television. Though I am a part of the cast of "TDP", I still have a bit of reservation about screening the movie on prime-time television. As for the U/A version, I wonder what will be left of the movie if it goes through 56 cuts."

CHANNELS IGNORE OUR CERTIFICATIONS AND KEEP SHOWING U/A MOVIES AT ALL HOURS "Keeping the content of the film in mind, we gave it a U/A certificate. I've raised this point before too - we give U/A certifications and U as well, but channels show all movies at the same time, ignoring the clear programming code that says U/A content is to be shown during watershed hours only. Phir U/A ka matlab hi kya hua? Lekin ab tak hum bhi certification diye jaa rahe thay, aur woh bhi happily ignore karke dikhaye jaa rahe thay.

Now, when an alert citizen has filed a court case, and the judiciary has referred it to the I&B ministry, asking it to go as per the programming code, everyone is asking, yeh kya ho gaya. Obviously, the filmmakers are upset. Someone should ask the audience - the consumer - about what they want. We all have our own opinions, but many people have called and said that it's good that it wasn't shown. There should be a healthy discussion between the audience and the Censor Board and the broadcasting ministry on this. Some films are intrinsically adult in content, and by cutting six minutes - as we have done for this one - can it be made okay for 'U' viewing? Also, when it comes to television, how does one monitor whether parents are present when kids are watching TV? These days, both parents work, and return late. In a theatre one can monitor. But in homes, how is it possible to monitor? It should be the prerogative of every parent to decide what their kids should watch on TV, and jab ek aam citizen ne ye mudda uthaya hai, he needs to be given an answer, not a ruling." - Pankaja Thakur, CEO, CBFC

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