Anubhav Sinha’s film Article 15, which hits the theatres on Friday, has been given a U/A certificate by the CBFC after five modifications. The film, starring Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead, is based on the Badaun rape case and deals with the caste divide in the country.
As per the official website of the CBFC, the film was categorised ‘UA’- unrestricted public exhibition but with parental guidance, after the makers had submitted a compliance certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and even added a voiceover in Hindi with the existing disclaimer before the film begins.
The CBFC had suggested modifying a scene by removing the visual of a flag falling in the fire. It replaced a sexually abusive word with an expression and also removed a derogatory word directed towards parents. Apart from this, visuals of beating up people have been reduced to around 30 per cent.
Article 15 has found itself in much controversy ever since the trailer for the film dropped. After earning the ire of Parshuram Sena, a Brahmin outfit from UP, the makers have now also been threatened by the Karni Sena, the same group that protested the release of Deepika-Ranveer starrer Padmaavat in 2018.
The Karni Sena along with another outfit that calls itself the Brahman Mahasabha held a press conference on 24 June saying demanding that the film is ‘banned’. A member of the Brahman Mahasabha said, “Ban this film leave Brahmins alone, remove our name from the film. Brahmins have always been shown in a bad light.” He added, “There so many mistakes in the film, they are showing that the crime has happened with a Dalit but in reality it was with someone from the OBC category.”
He also mentioned that they have given Anubhav Sinha, the director of Article 15, an ultimatum.
According to a report by mid-day, Sinha responded to the threats by admitting that plenty of Brahmins have worked on the film, hence it cannot be anti-Brahmin. He also pleaded for the group to accept the CBFC’s approval and let the movie release. “Why would I make an anti-Brahmin film? People are smart enough to know that there were enough and more Brahmins associated with the making of the film to know (that it doesn’t showcase them in bad light)”, Anubhav said.
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