The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has said, in an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, that in changing times and in the light of the #Me Too movement, it is important to “sensitise society towards women” through the medium of cinema. The affidavit was filed in response to the petition by former CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani which said the board had suggested cuts in his upcoming movie Rangeela Raja .
The CBFC affidavit, filed before a Division Bench of Justices B.P. Dharmadhikari and S.V. Kotwal, said, “The scenes and dialogues where modifications suggested portrayed women in bad light. It cannot allow objectification of women through the medium of humour. The character of Rangeela Raja was found justifying the ill-treatment of women and glorifying violence against women.”
For an institution like CBFC, it is of “paramount public interest” that viewers are sensitised to the status of women, it said.
“Degradation of a woman by objectifying her and projecting her as a commodity cannot be tolerated. The scenes and language should be such that parents can sit together comfortably with children and there should not be discomfort in collective family viewing of the film. CBFC has to certify responsibly, taking this into account as well.”
On November 6, Mr. Nihalani filed a petition stating, “As per the CBFC system, after the screening, if any portion is found objectionable, the producer is given opportunities to put his case forward and justify the scene or the dialogue.” However, Mr. Nihalani said in this case, no such opportunity was made available to him. Neither has any “double-meaning dialogue” been used, nor does the movie contain vulgar scenes, Mr. Nihalani said.
