Censor war

At times, while showing reality, a film comes under the scanner of CBFC and then only time can decide its fate. One such movie is No Fathers in Kashmir. After eight long months of battle, the film recently got UA certification and has now finally got a release date. The film will hit cinema halls on April 5. Here’s a look at some movies across regions and boundaries that have faced a similar situation with the board

For a healthy dialogue: MeToo

Ritika Singh, who was last seen in Saala Khadoos, is anxious as her film MeToo is stuck at the censor board. The movie was completed seven months ago but was denied clearance by the board, which raised objections on some dialogues. The makers subsequently approached the Mumbai Revising Committee of the CBFC which redirected the film to the Chennai Revising Committee. The fate of the movie is still undecided.

Matter of reputation: Shonibar Bikel

The movie, Shonibar Bikel, which translates to Saturday Afternoon, has been banned by the Bangladesh Censor Board as it would damage Bangladesh’s reputation. The movie is inspired by the July 2016 attack on an upmarket cafe by militants that killed 22 hostages, including 18 foreigners. The Bangladesh Censor Board also claimed the film being a Bangladesh-German co-production could even incite religious fervor in a Muslim-majority nation like Bangladesh.

Too real for comfort: 31st October

31st October, starring Vir Das and Soha Ali Khan, was stuck for showing the reality of the situation. It was not given a go ahead because of the political issues connected to the movie. However, after all the push, the film could finally get a release date.

Indecent proposal: Fire

One of the very first films that addressed the issue of homosexuality, Fire, was not allowed to release in India because of its bold content. The movie which was packed with the exceptional performances of Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, was banned by the Censor Board labelling it as ‘indecent’ and ‘immoral’.

Abuse & drug abuse: Udta Punjab

Udta Punjab was in the news for its issues with the Censor Board for too many visuals of drugs and usage of swear words, but after all the struggle it released and had a decent response. It even went ahead and won few critics’ awards.

Fearless content: Lipstick Under My Burkha

India’s film censors had declined to certify Lipstick Under My Burkha for its sexual scenes and abusive words, among other things. The entire team fought this battle for a long time for the movie to finally get a release date. The movie was loved and appreciated for its fearless content. Four feisty women in small-town India try to chase their little dreams and desires through secret acts of rebellion.