Pahlaj Nihalani hits back at the makers of ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’

There’s a lot of controversy going around Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’. The film has been given 48 cuts by CBFC with an ‘A’ certificate. Of course this has not gone down well with the makers. It was also said that the producer of the film, Kiran Shroff was humiliated by a few members of CBFC.

Recently, Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA) had kept a press conference to support the makers of ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’, and talk about the 48 cuts they have received. Well now, the CBFC chief, Pahlaj Nihalani has finally spoken about the whole scenario.

Pahlaj stated, “Look at the timing of their so-called revolt against the CBFC. Kushan Nandy (director) and his producer (Kiran Shroff) had come to us for a certificate in the first week of July. We had given them an ‘A’ certificate with many cuts which included graphic scenes of love making and explicit references to inflamed body parts.”

“They had the choice of either going to the Revising Committee or the Tribunal (Film Certification Appellate Tribunal). They chose to go straight to the Tribunal. Now when the Tribunal is viewing their film this week, they suddenly decide to create a stir around their film. And what better target than the CFBC? Where were they for a month? What happened to suddenly awaken their dormant liberal impulses?,” he added. (Also Read: CBFC slut shamed the producer of ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’)

While talking about being humiliated by CBFC members, Producer Kiran Shroff had stated, “After the examining committee watched the film, they made us wait for one hour outside their office. We knew by then that there would raise issues with the film. Anyway, we were called inside and I would really like to point out that these people lack basic decency. The two hours that the discussion, which was actually a one-way argument, went for, we were made to stand. No one offered a seat or even a glass of water. That’s how they treat filmmakers. But what was more astonishing was that during the discussion, a female member of the examining committee asked me, ‘How could you make this film being a woman?’ I replied, ‘Why a woman can’t make a film like this?’ To this, a male member said, ‘But she is not a woman. She is wearing shirt-pants, so, how can she be a woman?’”

“Kushan and I were left shocked with his comment. I felt like answering that even his female colleague was wearing shirt-pant so, does that make her less of a woman? But I stayed quiet because I didn’t want the argument to take a personal turn. For the film’s sake, I decided to not say anything,” she added.

Murtuza Iqbal

‘Eat Sleep Bollywood Repeat’ is his life Mantra. Dance is his first love and Rani Mukerji is his eternal crush. He is someone who loves being himself, and as for the ones who don’t agree, his reply? “Talk to my hand!”