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Ex-censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani has challenged cuts ordered in his film Rangeela Raja, and accused his successor Prasoon Joshi of ‘harassing’ him.

New Delhi: “All the films and programmes” shown on “Netflex” are “purely adult programmes”, including “Secret Game”, a “website” that is “in the nature of blue films”.

This is among the many claims made by former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chairman Pahlaj Nihalani in his petition before the Bombay High Court.

He has challenged the censor board’s cuts to his upcoming film Rangeela Raja, accused his successor, Prasoon Joshi, of being a “political” appointee and of “harassing” him, and even brought in the fact that “the Government is running by the political party known as BJP”, and that “the agenda of the said party is about construction of the temple at Ayodhya i.e. of the Lord ‘RAM’”.

Here are some of the key points in Nihalani’s petition, excerpted and reproduced as they appear:

On his tenure as CBFC chief

It is also matter of record that the Petitioner had been appointed as a Chairman of the Respondent No.2 [CBFC chairman] for a period commencing from 19-1-2015 to 11-8-2017. The Petitioner states that it is also matter of record that during his tenure, the Petitioner has brought substantial changes in the rules and regulations of the film certification which have been appreciated by the Public at large.

It is also an unhidden fact that while his tenure as a Chairman of the Respondent No.2, the Petitioner was known to be one of the strict person who had stopped all kind of malpractices which were ongoing in the office of the Respondent No.2 with the result, obviously, all those members of the screening committee as well as some of the Officers/Regional Officers of the Respondent No.2 who were directly affected have been against the Petitioner.

The Petitioner states that despite all the efforts being made while the Petitioner was Chairman, nothing has been done for the purpose of framing any such law in respect of such medias where the programmes are being telecasted without there being any censor. The Petitioner states that in short, it can be said that the whole idea of incorporating the law have been lost.

Also read: Why should filmmakers obtain NoCs from govts: Tribunal pulls up censor board

On his successor

The post of the Respondent No.2 [CBFC chairman, Prasoon Joshi] is an independent post however, while appointing the Respondent No.2, it has been noticed by all concerned that though, the said Chairman of the Respondent No.2 do not hold sufficient experience in respect of the film certification and the norms in respect thereof, however, despite the same, politically, he came to be appointed as a Chairman of the Respondent No.2.

On vulgarity in movies

It is also an unhidden fact that slowly and gradually, the mentality of the people have changed and what was being called as vulgar in the yesterdays become common as on today and as such, it could be said that the parameter for the granting censor certificate which were prevailing at the time of introduction of the Act were altogether different whereas the parameters for certification of the film prevailing as on today are altogether different.

It is also an unhidden fact that recently, a company known as Netflex started a Website known as ‘Secret Game’ which has become very popular however, all the films and programmes shown in the said website are purely adult programme and it could be said the same are in the nature of blue films.

The Petitioner states that there are instances where the films like Veere Di wedding, Stree, Man Marjiyaan, are being granted censor certificate by the office of the Respondent No.2 wherein, all kind of vulgar scenes and dialogues have been permitted. The Petitioner states that it is also an unhidden fact that one of the leading artist of the film Industry, also a film producer viz. Dada Kondke have been producing the films always having double meaning however, at all relevant point of time, his films have been granted censor certificate.

Also read: The problem with India’s censor board is its morally conservative outlook

On why he is being ‘harassed’

The Petitioner states that even prima facie, if the said cuts and/or the dialogues are taken into consideration, the same do not show any vulgarity of whatsoever nature. The Petitioner states that however, only because the Petitioner is the ex-Chairman of the said Institute of the Respondent No.2 and had been very strict during his tenure, now, the Petitioner is sought to be harassed.

On the BJP

The Petitioner states that it is an unhidden fact that presently, the Government is running by the political party known as BJP. The Petitioner states that it is also an unhidden fact that one of the agenda of the said party is about construction of the temple at Ayodhya i.e. of the Lord “RAM”.

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