Fifty Shades of Grey had a record-breaking $94.4 million debut at the American box-office but the question looms large as to whether the film will have an India release.
According to sources, the complete film was earlier submitted for a screening with the Central Board of Film Certification to meet its February 14th release date deadline. However, closer to the screening, the studio got cold feet and pulled the film before the censor screening took place. They decided to send it back to their headquarters in Los Angeles, for a ‘softer’ cut of the film. This meant the studio couldn’t screen the film before the board on time. The studio now has a fresh date for the screening of the film at the CBFC and hopes to release the film in India by the end of February or the first week of March.
Since the CBFC has sent issued guidelines against ‘objectionable words’ being used in films under any category, the release of a steamy, sex-filled, BDSM-laced Fifty Shades of Grey seems rather bleak. This big-screen adaptation of EL James’ best seller has already been banned in Malaysia, Indonesia and the UAE, while distributors in China have decided against releasing it.