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Now, CBFC has introduced a new rule: the Board will no longer give out details of the nature of scenes or the number of sequences that are censored from a movie. Until now, you could log on to the CBFC website and find out the scenes that have been snipped from a forthcoming release.
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Buzz is, the producer lobby wanted it this way. They felt that once the audience got to know that a certain kiss/action sequence was chopped off, they felt that the movie was too tame for their liking and didn't step into the theatres to catch the flick.
So the filmmakers were of the opinion that what happens at the editing table post Board's orders, should remain between the Board members and the filmmaker in question. The audience can stay out of the picture.
It is believed that even the Hollywood producers were requesting the Censors about the same.
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Does the producers' argument really hold water? Does the audience really decide to skip a film if a certain action scene or sex scene is chopped off and thus affect the movie's box-office run?
Let's see the last few releases that have borne the brunt of Censor Board's scissors.
NH 10:
Image Source: mediaclues
The film's gory content and colourful language left the Board members extremely uncomfortable. So they ordered 30 cuts in the drama. However, the film was given an 'A' certificate with 9 cuts eventually. While the audience was in the know about its cuts, the film still did above average business.
Bombay Velvet:
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The Ranbir Kapoor-Anushka Sharma starrer ran into trouble with Censor Board for a lovemaking scene and a few cuss words. Only after the scenes were toned down, did the Revising Committee pass it. Once again, the audience was aware that the content had been watered down. And yes, they stayed away from the theatres. But something tells me, the lack of audience enthusiasm had more to do with the film per se and less with the censored scenes.
Haider:
image Source: facebook/TheHaiderMovie
This one takes the cake - the CBFC ordered 41 cuts in the Vishal Bhardwaj drama. Among them were scenes of torture by the Indian army, the word 'fu**ed', Shraddha Kapoor's bare back, a scene of mutilated bodies and a crucial political speech. Was the audience deterred by these cuts? Not really. The Shahid Kapoor film had a good run at the box-office.
What do you think of Censor Board's new diktat? Do you really think the audience loses interest in a movie if they know of the scenes that have been edited?
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Or is this another diktat courtesy the whims and fancies of CBFC under the garb of sanskar?
Tell us what you think in the 'Comments' section below. You could also share your views on facebook.com/SpotboyE or twitter.com/SpotboyEtheshow with #NoSexCensors.
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