Even as we pen this article, the stalemate on the release of the trailer of Sanjay Puran Singh’s upcoming film 72 Hoorain continues. While the film’s release has managed a free pass from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), permission for the launch of the full trailer seems to be disallowed for now, pushing the makers to go for a digital reveal. Wonder what was the bone of contention? The subject matter or that the knowledge of it might ruffle a certain section of the Indian audience!
If the latter is the case, then the CBFC seems to be taking into consideration the sentiments of only some people and failing to maintain credible balance in their selections and judgement. Some of the observations made by the Allahabad High Court about the CBFC’s role regarding Adipurush, the recent controversy churner, would shed light into an issue that needs to be tackled upfront.
While directing the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the CBFC to submit their affidavits in two PIL pleas challenging the dialogues and scenes in Adipurush, the Allahabad High Court said a few days ago that certifying the movie was a blunder and that it hurt the sentiments of people at large. The judge went on to add that if such a distorted work, even if it was a documentary, was made on the Quran and erroneous facts were pushed forward, the country would definitely bear the brunt of the outrage. Keeping this in mind then, one must inquire what exactly is the role of the CBFC here? Rather, are they really acting credibly in certifying films with balance and responsibility? If yes, then how come they come in the way of films that are based on facts and put a dent on the rabid fundamentalist narrative of Islamic radicals while they wave the green flag on films that distort Hindu history and blaspheme the religious texts and figures held in the greatest esteem by the majority populace? If artistic license and creative freedom is what they encourage then why is the scales tipped towards only those who mock Hindu culture, customs and rituals? Who is at the helm of the CBFC who wears a blinkered hood and doesn’t consider Hindu feelings important enough? Are these decision-makers or certifiers not scrutinising the content in a threadbare fashion? Or are they too busy to decode the nefarious agenda of ill-informing films?
We shall elaborate on what the Allahabad High Court said at this point to drive home why the CBFC should be under the scanner now? For, they are the body that even passed films such as Bhool Bhulaiyya 2 in the garb of commercial entertainment at the cost of derision of Hindu customs and culture. And yet, they have an issue with movies such as Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare, Ali Akbar’s treatise on the Moplah Hindu genocide. So flustered was the certifying body that the director was heckled and forced to give into several cuts before the film could be presented.
The judge opined that the court is concerned about the sentiments of all religions equally and hence feels that sacred texts shouldn’t be tampered with. “If we will shut our mouths today then you know what will happen? These incidents are increasing day by day. I saw a movie wherein Lord Shankar was shown running with his Trishul in a funny manner! The filmmakers earn money as movies do business. Something is being done to break harmony. Is this a joke? Suppose you make even a short documentary on the Quran, depicting wrong things, then you will see what happens! Don’t test the tolerance of Hindus so much!” the judge said.
Keeping this reprimand in view, this is what we ask again. The filmmaker will make whatever he wants to and go by the agenda or propaganda that he has been asked to dish out. Some will distort facts; some will share hard truths. It is in the way things are presented that courts credit or controversy. In that case, who are the heads at CBFC who discriminate so much? They flag off distortion while vetoing facts and truth. They allow propagandist works like Firaaq and Bheed while stonewalling authentic efforts based on proven facts and history. Most importantly, why are they lazily passing badly made narratives that hardly represent the beauty of Bharat? Are they just being lazy, or are they pegs in a vicious cycle of breaking India forces?
