Prakash Jha asked to check language of his upcoming release ‘Jai Gangajal’

The CBFC seems to be really pissed with even the slightest usage of colloquial slang.  It has been beeping out words from films, which they apparently find ‘offensive’. However, quite surprisingly, Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘Saala Khadoos’ was spared from being asked to remove ‘Saala’ from the title. We wonder why Prakash Jha didn’t fall into the category of fortunate ones as well!

The board asked for all ‘saala’s used throughout the film to be beeped before they rate it U/A. Same goes for a few other cuss words. This has got the film-maker fuming. “How many beeps can you have in a film? “Saala is a word we use in everyday conversation. My cop drama is set in the hinterlands. I’m not saying anything anti-national or anti-religion. I’m a responsible maker who would never hurt anyone’s sentiments. There’s a need to look at the context in which a particular word or phrase is used. If a villain is saying something and is immediately taken to task for it and not glorified, they should let it go.”- Jha said.

The ‘Rajneeti’ director also said that the first ‘Gangajal’ which came out in 2003 was far ahead in terms of usage of cuss words but was never denied an U/A certificate. “I was told that two members wanted to give it an ‘A’ certificate with several cuts while two others were ready to give it a ‘UA’ with minimal cuts. The matter was referred to Pahlaj Nihalani who asked me to send it to the Revising Committee. He sat in the screening and headed the committee. While several members appreciated the film, I was offered a ‘UA’ with 11 cuts which wasn’t acceptable. There is no rule saying certain cuss words cannot be used,” – he further added.

Reportedly, the total number of cuts suggested by the Censor Board exceeds 50; which might simply change the very essence of the film. We are yet to see how the makers manage the flavour while abiding by CBFC!

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.