Pahlaj Nihalani lashes out against the Censor Board

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Pahlaj Nihalani lashes out against the Censor Board
It’s strange how easily some people forget their past. How, after being at the receiving end of a flawed policy, they mete out the same treatment to others when in a position of authority. 

A case in point is Pahlaj Nihalani. Years ago, our current Censor Board chief was a humble Bollywood producer, who had to bear the brunt of CBFC’s (Central Board of Film Certification) ‘sanskari’ views. It all happened in 1996, when the Board’s Examining Committee expressed major reservations against Nihalani’s production Dil Tera Diwana. 



To begin with, the panel found the pelvic thrusts and dance movements in a song, featuring lead pair Saif Ali Khan and Twinkle Khanna, ‘vulgar’. They also had a problem with Twinkle’s attire in a particular scene. 

Calling the decision ‘senseless’, a livid Nihalani had then said: “It was a ridiculous objection. Are they going to stop showing women’s tennis on television? Twinkle only wore cycling shorts with a skirt on top. The censors seemed to mistake the shorts for underwear. Are they living in the 18th century?”

Well, the point is, under Nihalani’s leadership, has the CBFC moved forward from the 18th century? Doubtful, considering the fact that this is the same person who had demanded 89 cuts in Abhishek Chaubey’s Udta Punjab (Bombay High Court saved the film, though) and close to 50 cuts in Abhishek Jawkar’s Missing On A Weekend. In the latter case, the Censor Board had asked the word ‘Goa’ to be muted, as the film revolves around the state’s drug mafia. The CBFC was of the opinion that the film shows Goa in poor light (After Punjab, Pahlaj Nihalani now has a problem with Goa, June 29).

Why are we talking about it now? It’s all courtesy Anurag Kashyap, Nihalani’s bête noire. The Udta Punjab producer stumbled upon a newspaper clipping that carried Nihalani’s angry outburst against the CBFC during the release of Dil Tera Diwana. He couldn’t overlook the bitter irony of it and took to Facebook. 


Image Source: Manav Manglani 



We hope Nihalani reads this, too. You never know, what if it makes him a new man, a little less ‘sanskari’ perhaps?



Thumbnail Image Source: socialnews