CBFC returns Padmavati’s application for certification
NEWDELHI/JAIPUR/HISAR/PATNA: As protests against the release of Padmavati continued in Rajasthan and elsewhere in the country, reports emerged on Friday that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has sent the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed movie back to the makers as their application for the certification was “incomplete”.
According to the CBFC, the movie will be reviewed as per the set norms once it is sent back to the board after sorting out the issue. “The film was submitted for certification last week. We examined the documents, as we normally do. It was conveyed to the makers that their application was incomplete. They had to rectify and send it back, we will view it when it comes back to us,” a source in the CBFC told PTI.
“When they (makers) rectify the deficiency, we will again scrutinise it and when the turn comes we will examine it (film for certification),” the source added. The source, however, refused to divulge details of the “deficiency in the application”.
When asked about the date for screening of the film, the source said, “When it comes back to us, we will put it in queue and see when the turn comes, there will be no exception (in case of ‘Pad- mavati’).”
Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, confirmed the development. “That’s true. But the film is with the CBFC, it is merely a minor technical issue. Nothing stops them from seeing the film if the want,” he told PTI.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to hear seeking the removal of objectionable scenes from the movie. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, justice AM Khanwilkar and justice DY Chandrachud agreed to hear the plea on Monday but refused urgent listing of the matter. The petitioner, advocate ML Sharma also sought a direction for removal of all scenes of alleged “character assassination” of Padmavati before its release.
On November 10, the apex court had refused to stay the movie’s release, saying the CBFC considers all aspects before granting a certificate to any film before its release.
At the Chittorgarh Fort, housing the Padmini Palace, entry of tourists was blocked by protesters on Friday. In Mumbai, police issued a warning against groups taking law into their own hands while protesting against the film.
Chittorgarh SP Prashan Kumar Khamsera said the fort is not officially closed. “We have been informed that entry will be blocked for tourists. We have made ample security arrangements to deal with the situation,” he said. Pradeep Kumar Borad, managing director of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, ruled out any change in operations of the super luxury train — Palace on Wheels — and said it would go to Chittorgarh. This came after the Sena issued a threat to disrupt the service if their demand to preview the film before its release was not met.
In Haryana’s Hisar, the local Karni Sena unit took out a protest and burnt the effigy of Bhansali. They also handed over a memorandum addressed to the PM and demanded a complete ban on the movie’s screening.