The Hindu : Front Page : No countrywide ban on film: Centre

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Sunday, Dec 02, 2007
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No countrywide ban on film: Centre

Special Correspondent

Haryana bans Aaja Nachle; U.P. relents

OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN: Madhuri Dixit in ‘Aaja Nachle’

NEW DELHI: Even as the Centre ruled out a countrywide ban on the Hindi film ‘Aaja Nachle,’ the title song of which triggered a controversy, Haryana banned the Madhuri Dixit starrer on Saturday, fearing public disturbances.

But in Uttar Pradesh the ban was lifted, subject to certain conditions, the very next day it was imposed. The Punjab government, which banned the film earlier in the day, later asked the district magistrates to decide whether to allow the screening of the film after its objectionable content was removed.

In the Lok Sabha, the government expressed the hope that the controversy would die down as producer Yash Chopra decided to delete objectionable references in the song that hurt the sentiments of a section.

Responding to a demand made by some members for banning the film, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi informed the House of the producer’s decision. As for banning the film, he said that was a decision for the State governments to take. For, film exhibition and related matters were a State subject.

“The government does not interfere in the functioning of the Censor Board, which is headed by the eminent film personality Sharmila Tagore. The appellate board, before which anyone can appeal, is headed by senior judge Usha Mehra.” No one had approached the board so far, he said.

The issue was raised by Ramdas Athawale (Republican Party of India) who alleged that the song humiliated Dalits. Supporting him, Mohammad Salim (CPI-M) said writers and poets, besides the government and the Censor Board, should be more sensitive to such issues which went against democratic principles.

No insult: Sharmila

Ms. Tagore told The Hindu that the committee which cleared ‘Aaja Nachle’ had not missed the “objectionable” reference. “The members saw it as a profession-based remark, and not as an insult to any caste.”

Admitting that the Censor Board could have miscalculated the possible response to such a reference and that it was a “lapse,” she said the Central Board of Film Certification contacted Mr. Chopra immediately after it learnt about the uproar and he readily agreed to delete the offensive portions of the song.

Ms. Tagore said banning the film was a “big stick to beat a small error with.” Pointing out that the song had been aired on television several weeks ahead of the release of the film, she said: “Had the people who objected to the song contacted us, we would have resolved the matter amicably and quietly.”

Panel to issue summons

PTI reports:

The National Commission for the Scheduled Castes has decided to summon all those associated with the controversial lyrics in the film.

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