News

"Better to scrap the censor board," fumes Nihalani

27 Jan 2016

The newly-revamped Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) which looks at films rejected by the Examining Committee (EC) and/or the Revising Committee of the Censor Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) has again struck down the decision of censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani.

The Tribunal has upturned all the drastic verbal and visual cuts in Prakash Jha's Jai Gangaajal barring two of what Nihalani sarcastically calls, token cuts.

This is the second time in two weeks that the Tribunal has snubbed the EC's decision. Earlier Vikram Bhatt's Love Games was also given a clean chit by the Tribunal.

But this time Nihalani won't take the snub lying down. Lashing out against the Tribunal's decision to restore all the cuts made by the EC, Nihalani fumes, "I am shocked that Prakash Jha's film has been given a 'UA' by the Tribunal with practically no cuts. The film's content violates practically all the guidelines that the censor board is supposed to follow. There are scenes of gruesome brutality and dialogues that are clearly not meant for children. Yet, the Tribunal, in all its wisdom has opted to give the film a 'UA' certificate. That means children can watch the scenes of graphic violence and learn new abusive words." About the cuts made by the EC being restored by the Tribunal Nihalani says, "This is the second time the Tribunal has upturned the Examining Committee's decision. If this is going to be the trend, why have the censor board? We are being ridiculed. Let them scrap the CBFC." When contacted Prakash Jha said he was happy with the Tribunals decision. "I feel reassured that good sense eventually prevails." About Mr Nihalani unhappiness with the Tribunal's decision Prakash advises, "He should go to the court against the Tribunal's order!"