Om Puri’s last film to get ‘A’ certificate

Overruling the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) refusal to certify late actor Om Puri’s last film Rambhajjan Zindabad, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) has recommended an adult certification for the film with a new title Omprakash Zindabad.

The film was denied certification by the CBFC ostensibly for being “a satire on rape”, for “explicit and abusive language”, and for references to “castes and communities”.

In its order, the FACT, a tribunal that hears the appeals filed by film makers or producers who are aggrieved by the CBFC’s orders, also reproached the CBFC for denying certification to films that are eligible for ‘A’ (Adult) certificate.

“…We commend to the CBFC that if a movie examined by it is capable of receiving certification with certain cuts, deletions, modifications and or additions in the disclaimer, then the CBFC may consider apprising the appellant of the same,” the FACT headed by Justice Manmohan Sarin has said in its order.

In April, the FACT had come to the rescue of ‘Lipstick Under by Burkha’ a film based on the theme of women’s sexuality, which had been denied certification on similar grounds—the language was abusive and that it was demeaning to women—by the Pahlaj Nihalani headed CBFC. home on the same street. Previous occupants of 6 Kalidas Marg were Amar Singh, Waqar Ahmad Shah, Babu Singh Kushwaha with Javed Abidi.

Abidi, the bungalow’s last resident, was considered close to former CM Akhilesh Yadav. However, he was sacked as the chairman of the UP pollution control board within months of moving in. Kushwaha, an influential minister under former CM Mayawati, lost all his clout towards the end of the BSP’s term. He was eventually named in the NRHM scam and thrown into prison.

Shah, another minister in the Akhilesh government, lapsed into a coma soon after moving in.

A couple of bureaucrats – Neera Yadav and Pradeep Shukla – also ended up in jail.

However, Baghel’s friends and well-wishers seemed confident that he would beat the jinx. The minister, for his part, firmly believed that no misfortune was headed his way.

Agatha Christie set her The Mysterious Affairs at Styles on a legend that supposedly still haunts Hotel Savoy, a landmark in popular hill station Mussoorie.

Locals and guests say the spirit of Lady Frances Garnet Orme, a British spiritualist who was murdered in 1911, roams the corridors and staircases of the 1902-built hotel. She is also said to teleport from room to room, searching for her killer.

The state tourism department is searching too — not Lady Orme’s killer, but buildings and sites that have the reputation of being haunted.

“We are collecting information … to package them as tourism material. Stories behind these places will be displayed on the premises,” minister Maharaj said.

His department will hire guides and artistes to act in skits with adequate sound effects to make the experience more chilling.

Officials have identified 15 haunted sites so far, including Hotel Savoy and the British-era Lambi Dehar limestone mines near Mussoorie. The mines often give way, burying the death more than 50,000 miners in separate accidents over the years. Legend has it that the dead scream for salvation at night.

These sites are at the front edge of haunts, generating a steady stream of pictures, videos and write-ups on the internet.

Ghost tourism has boomed over the past decade globally, but “not very popular in India”, Maharaj said.

But Maharaj believes his state can do better.

“Structures available in the hills … the pristine environment will attract tourists from all segments.”