Despite a Kerala High Court order to the contrary, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will not certify the indie film, Ka Bodyscapes for public screening.
In a letter sent to filmmaker-producer Jayan Cherian, the board has reasoned that “… the film is glorifying the subject of gay and homosexual relationship, nudity accentuating vital parts of male body (in paintings) in closed shots in the whole movie. The film is explicit of scene offending Hindu sensibilities depicting vulgarity and obscenity through the movie. The religion of ‘Hindu’ is portrayed in a derogatory manner especially Lord Hanuman (shown in poor light as gay) which may cause law and order problem in society. The film contains posters depicting homosexuality throughout the movie and derogatory remarks against women. Abusive language is used in most of the places and also a female Muslim character is shown masturbating. The film has references to Hindu organisations indirectly which is unwarranted.” (sic)
The body also asks him to go in appeal before the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, if he so desires, in 30 days.
The CBFC has so far watched the movie three times, the last by a second revising committee, led by chairman Pahlaj Nihalani, in February following a High Court order that asked the body to issue a certificate, even if that would require a bit of excision, blurring and bleep-out in accordance with the provisions of the Cinematograph Act of 1952.
But the board would have to state the reasons for each and every alteration thus demanded. “They are just delaying the certification so as to frustrate me,” rued Mr. Cherian, who was amenable to reasonable changes suggested by the body.
‘Flimsy reasons’
Having spent a fortune organising the special screenings of the film — in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, and Mumbai —over the last one year of the certification process, Mr. Cherian reckons that the reasons given by the board are flimsy and laughable. “What do they mean by the argument that the film has indirect references to Hindu organisations which is unwarranted?” he asks.
Mr. Cherian’s debut feature film, Papilio Buddha , also had a run-in with the CBFC.
