Pahlaj Nihalani asserted that no political pressure influenced the board's decision to impose cuts in the movie Udta Punjab co-produced by Anurag Kashyap.
Highlights
- Cuts in film have nothing to do with Punjab polls, says Censor Board head
- Producer Anurag Kashyap accused Mr Nihalani of arbitrary censorship
- 'Udta Punjab' is slated for a June 17 release
Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, described as a "dictator" by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, today said the 89 cuts imposed on the latter's film
Udta Punjab "have nothing to do with the Punjab elections." Mr
Kashyap's many allegations against him were baseless, he said.
Talking to NDTV, Mr Nihalani asserted that no political pressure influenced the board's decision that references to Punjab, politics and elections must be removed from the film, including the title. "The centre never interferes with the Censor Board, there was No Political Influence," Mr Nihalani said, stoutly defending the board's stand.
"Only if one sees the entire film can one understand why 'Punjab' was deleted," Mr Nihalani said to address allegations that the deletion was ordered to protect the ruling Akali Dal-BJP alliance in Punjab, which has been assailed by the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party over rampant drug abuse in the state, where elections are now months away.
Mr Kashyap, whose film is based on drug abuse in the state, has said
"Punjab" is intrinsic to his film and cannot be separated from it. In tweets and interviews he has
lashed out at Mr Nihalani blaming him alone for the trouble his film is in only nine days before it is slated for release.
The filmmaker has accused Mr Nihalani of arbitrary censorship and running the Censor Board as his personal fief. "His North Korea," Mr Kashyap said.
"If Kashyap thinks CBFC under me
like 'North Korea', so be it, he can say that as he has the freedom of speech," Mr Nihalani said.
The censor chief also denied the allegation that the board has delayed conveying its decision to the makers of
Udta Punjab. "the application came to CBFC on Wednesday, Friday we saw the film. Then two days on the weekend we were shut. There was no delay," he said, adding, "The list of cuts was ready on Tuesday, Kashyap can take it."
Anurag Kashyap, who is one of the film's producers, has alleged that he has not appealed against the censor board's cuts to a film tribunal because he has received no intimation in writing about them.