CBFC BOARD MEMBERS TO HEAD TO KERALA TO CERTIFY FILM

A Kerala high court decision has ensured that the board members of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will have to fly down to Thiruvananthpuram to watch Jayan Cherian’s Ka Bodyscapes, a film that has been denied certification on grounds that it “glorifies homosexuality” and abusive language.

The court has also directed Pahlaj Nihalani-headed CBFC to give the reasons for denying the film certification in writing, should it choose do so.

On Friday, 12 of the 16 Board members, under the court’s direction will watch the film, which will be followed by a meeting, sources told HT.

“The court order asking CBFC board members to watch the film came in December 2016; the order was to watch the film within three months to decide the certification issue, but the board members were not told of the decision. After the producer approached the court again, and a contempt petition was filed, they were given another one month, up to July 20 to watch the film,” a source told HT.

However, the CBFC kept dragging its feet; and then shot off a letter claiming it does not have the funds to fly all the members.

The Nihalani-headed board has been in the thick of controversies for its decisions to deny certification to films on grounds such as “women oriented”; chopping kissing scenes and muting cuss words.

More recently, Nihalani wants actors to refrain from smoking, drinking on screen. Nihalani and the 16 board members, including film makers Ashok Pandit, Chandraprakash Diwedi, actor and theater personality Vani Tripathi will end their tenure in January 2015.

ON FRIDAY, 12 OF THE 16 MEMBERS, UNDER THE COURT’S DIRECTION WILL WATCH THE FILM, WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A MEET