‘Film-makers must prepare to fight legal battles for CBFC certification’
NEWDELHI:Director Chandraprakash Dwivedi, whose film Mohalla Assi has been cleared for release after the Delhi high court’s intervention, says filmmakers in the country should be prepared for a legal fight to get a certification for their works.
The director, who fought a protracted battle with the central board of film certification (CBFC), was critical of the processes followed by the board that put several conditions such as asking for modifications and cuts before certifying the film.
The CBFC had objected to the film’s release on the grounds that its content was abusive , hurt communities and would stoke law and order problems.
“The court ordered the film to be released after muting one word. No cuts or modifications were asked for, which puts a question on the CBFC’s examining and reviewing committees raising objection. It seems the guidelines for certification are being misinterpreted by the CBFC,” Dwivedi said.
The theatrical release of the film, based on the Hindi novel Kashi Ka Assi by Kashinath Singh, was held up for two years. The makers approached the film certification appellate tribunal (FCAT), which reportedly asked for 10 modifications in the film.
Asked if registering dissent as a CBFC member against the former chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani was the reason for the hold-up, Dwivedi said: “I don’t know what the agenda was, but every possible attempt was made by the CBFC and the FCAT to delay the (release of the) film.”
He echoed the concerns of film- makers who have called for implementing the recommendations of the Shyam Benegal Committee to streamline certification by introducing more categories for films instead of seeking alteration in the scripts.
“The system has worsened, the board may have a new chairperson, but I don’t think the way CBFC functions will change. Every film-maker may have to prepare for a prolonged legal battle for certification,” he said.
In December, the Delhi high court dismissed the CBFC’s review petition asking for reconsideration of the single bench’s decision to allow the film’s release with an ‘A’ certificate.