The REAL truth behind the CBFC controversy surrounding Priyanka Chopra’s Jai Gangaajal!
Recently it was revealed that Jai Gangaajal had been given a U/A certificate by the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after getting 11 cuts. It was also reported that the director, Prakash Jha was miffed about it, but had accepted the certificate. However, as per the latest developments, we now come to know that the filmmaker hasn’t accepted the certification and has taken this whole matter to the tribunal committee.
While Rajkumar Hirani was allowed to retain the word saala in the title of his next, Saala Khadoos, Prakash Jha had been asked to beep it out wherever it is used in Jai Gangaajal. The offensive word incidentally figures in Chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani’s infamous cuss list which also consists of words such as ghanta and a few other gaalis.
A few days back the whole issue cropped up when the revising committee asked for 11 cuts to get a U/A certificate. This surely hasn’t gone down too well with Prakash Jha, as he revealed to a leading daily today, “How many beeps can you have in a film? Saala is a word we use in everyday conversation. My cop drama is set in the hinterlands. I’m not saying anything anti-national or anti-religion.I’m a responsible maker who would never hurt anyone’s sentiments. There’s a need to look at the context in which a particular word or phrase is used. If a villain is saying something and is immediately taken to task for it and not glorified, they should let it go.”
On top of it, there is more trouble brewing for CBFC as it was revealed that the examining committee couldn’t arrive at a consensus on certification. The filmmaker added, “I was told that two members wanted to give it an A certificate with several cuts while two others were ready to give it a U/A with minimal cuts. The matter was referred to Pahlaj Nihalani who asked me to send it to the Revising Committee. He sat in the screening and headed the committee. While several members appreciated the film, I was offered a U/A with 11 cuts which wasn’t acceptable. There is no rule saying certain cuss words cannot be used.”