Reconsider U/A tag to Santa Banta film: Delhi HC to censor board

THE SIKH GROUP HAD SAID THE POSTERS AND TRAILERS OF THE FILM CHARACTERISED ‘SIKH COMMUNITY IN A DEFAMATORY AND DENIGRATING MANNER’

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to reconsider the ‘U/A’ certification given to upcoming film ‘Santa Banta Pvt Ltd’, after a Sikh group claimed the title and content of the film offend the sentiments of the community.

The high court asked CBFC to treat as a re presentation the petition filed by Delhi SikhGu rd war a Management Committee (DSGMC) seeking to cancel the ‘ U/A’ (unrestricted public exhibition - but with a word of caution that parental discretion required for children below 12 years) certificate given to the film, scheduled for release on April 22.

The court has told the censor board to decide on the representation by April 8.

The Sikh group had said the posters and trailers of the film characterised “Sikh community in a defamatory and denigrating manner”.

Contending that the release of the film would affect the interest of Sikh community, the DSGMC also sought for a direction to ban the release of the film.

However, the producers and makers of the film denied the allegations that the film disrespected the community’s sentiments.

They told court that the posters of the film, which are alleged to be objectionable has been withdrawn.

Earlier, during the hearing on the petition, the censor board had stood by its decision to certify it on the g round that there was nothing objectionable.