Amid the hue and cry over Udta Punjab, Central Board of Film Certification chief Pahlaj Nihalani has said that the cuts in the film have nothing to do with the upcoming polls in Punjab.
He called producer Anurag Kashyap’s accusations baseless, in an interview with NDTV.
Only if one sees the entire film can one understand why ‘Punjab’ was deleted.Pahlaj Nihalani
He replied to allegations that the name was dropped in order to protect the Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the state which goes to polls in 2017. He also specified that the central government had no role in deciding the any of the 89 edits.
Anurag Kashyap claims that the title is intrinsic to the film. Just nine days ahead of its release, the producers and the censor board are still at loggerheads over the depiction of drug usage and incessant cussing in the film
Nihalani has denied allegations that the board delayed the certification process. He stated that the reels were received on Wednesday and the board saw the film on Friday.
Nihalani added that after the weekend’s holiday, the list of edits was ready by Tuesday for Kashyap to take.
If Kashyap thinks the CBFC under me is like North Korea, so be it. He can say that as he has the freedom of speech.Pahlaj Nihalani
These statements on free speech are ironic as they comes following the heavy censorship that the CBFC has just proposed.
I&B Minister Takes a Dig at Kashyap
The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday jumped into the mix, and took on Anurag Kashyap for his comment comparing India to North Korea.
At a press conference, Rathore asked the audience to take a vote on the issue, before reminding them that this is a privilege North Koreans don’t enjoy.
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