CBFC Chief Pahlaj Nihalani Miffed With Rangoon Makers For Disobeying Rules

As Nihalani says, Rangoon makers have not complied with many CBFC directives in the film. CBFC will soon resort to legal recourse...

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CBFC Chief Pahlaj Nihalani Miffed With Rangoon Makers For Disobeying Rules
Here comes another trouble for Rangoon makers.

Not that the film has performed exceptionally well at the box-office, that they would face this latest trouble with a smile on their face.

Reportedly, Rangoon is playing in theatres sans censor certificate and the anti-smoking statutory warning. This has upset the Central Board of Film Certification who is considering pulling up the makers of the Vishal Bhardwaj film. The Board is expected to take legal recourse.

vishal bharadwaj posing for the shutterbugs
Image Source: Manav Manglani

Talking to leading daily, CBFC’s chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani said, “It has been brought to our notice that Rangoon has been playing in theatres across the country and outside India without the censor certificate and without the anti-smoking short films, which are compulsory for all films that show actors smoking and/or drinking. Rangoon had many scenes showing the main leads indulging in serious substance abuse. We asked the makers to put a disclaimer ahead of the opening credits. That disclaimer has gone missing. Now, we have been informed that the anti-smoking films do not play at the beginning and after the intermission. And also that the censor certificate is not flashed at the start as per law. These are serious offences.”

CBFC is also planning to take legal action against the makers.  “We are taking legal action against the digital operators, to begin with. We would not like to point fingers at anyone else for the lapse at this time. It is the digital operators’ responsibility to play exactly the length that is shown to us and certified by the CBFC. Not a second more or less of footage must be shown in theatres than what we have certified. The exact length of the film that is shown to us and certified by us is mentioned in the censor certificate. If the anti-smoking films have been removed from the beginning and after intermission and if the censor certificate is not being shown in Rangoon, then, the digital operators are screening less footage than what has been approved by the CBFC. It is a serious offence. We are investigating to see how deep the offence goes.” added Nihalani.

Nihalani who is visibly furious about the entire episode concluded saying, “Maybe some self-appointed intellectuals of our film industry feel it is okay to break the law as long as they can ridicule the jurisdiction of the CBFC.”

pahlaj nihalani looking angry with rangoon
Image Source: hulchultv

Well, Vishal, who has co-produced the film with Viacom 18, surely wouldn’t be very happy with this new trouble on his head.


Thumbnail Image Source: notey & twitter/shahidkapoor