Will the love making scene from Brett Lee-starrer be chopped?

It is a difficult time for filmmakers, especially when it comes to getting their films certified by the CBFC. Almost every other film which has anything remotely bold is being compromised on. Director Abhishek Chaubey’s ‘Udta Punjab‘ managed to get away, because it had a lot of support from the industry, and the leading actors were superstars. Alas, that is not the case with smaller (indie) films – they have to somehow bow their heads, and get their films butchered by the members of the CBFC. Filmmaker Anupam Sharma’s Australian romcom ‘UnIndian‘, starring former Australian cricketer Brett Lee and Tannishtha Chatterjee, has now become the latest victim of the CBFC.

Sharma was asked to chop down a love making scene from his film – bizarre as it sounds – the 65-second lovemaking scene was reduced to 26 seconds. Talking to a tabloid, Sharma said, “I have been asked to cut a lovemaking scene to get a U/A certificate. I have agreed since I don’t want to hold my distributors to ransom. But since that’s not my vision, I have requested the CBFC to insert a line declaring that the scene has been modified for the Indian audience.” He further added, “My advisers told me it is a rather unusual request, but I think it is fair that the audience is informed that is not how I directed the scene and have been forced to cut it. Let’s see how it goes.”

This isn’t the end for this young filmmaker, but there is still some time at hand for the film to release, the makers can escalate their concern to higher authorities. Do you think, of late, the CBFC is being increasingly painful for filmmakers? Share your thoughts in the comments’ section.