Bollywood
News: Mumbai: Thursday, 09 April 2015
…Censor Board Member Ashoke Pandit alleges
that CBFC’s chairperson Pahlaj Nihlani deliberately delayed the certification
of Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt’s Mr X thereby causing the producers heavy financial
losses. In an exclusive interview with Subhash K Jha, Pahlaj Nihlani answers to the charges.
Your
censor-board member Ashoke Pandit has tweeted that you withheld the certificate
for the Bhatts’ film Mr X illegally?
I did no such
thing. In fact we went out of the way to accommodate the screening and certification
of Mr X out of turn. Secondly I didn’t know Mr Pandit had studied the law so
carefully. I wish he would also study the guidelines and rules of the CBFC just
as carefully.
So what is
the truth about the certification of Mr X?
The truth is
I have not personally seen Mr X. So where is the question of withholding the
certificate? My board members watched the film out of turn on 30 March.They
advised some cuts. On 1 April without receiving a show-case notice the
producers have implemented the cuts, and got their clearance.
How did
that happen?
I don’t know.
They’ve probably exercised some internal influence, made the cuts without a
show-case notice, showed the cut version to two members of the CBFC and got
their ‘UA’ certificate . This is against
all rules and practice of certification.
Why was
the certificate not given to the producers after the cuts?
Because our
RO didn’t come to office on 1 April as he was not well. I too was unwell.The
file work was not complete. So I called our RO Mr Vaidya to complete the paper
work and then send the file to the CEO
Mr Shravan Kumar since his signature was required. I went on 4 April to the
CBFC office to sign the certificate although it was a holiday.
It is
being said that you were under pressure from the I &B ministry to clear MR
X?
Let me make
this clear. I am under no pressure from
the Ministry for any of the decisions taken.Yes, I am in consultation
with the I&B ministry. But there is absolutely no political interference in
the decisions of the CBFC.
Mr Ashoke
Pandit alleges that the Bhatts lost Rs 60 lakhs because of the delay in the
issuing of the censor certificate?
The producers
of Mr X never bothered to inform me that their film was being delayed because
of the certification. Also, I am a producer myself. I know the delivery of the print
begins four days before release. So where is the question of the Bhatts losing
money because we delayed his film’s certification?And where do I come into the
picture?
You are in
the picture as the chairperson of the
CBFC?
But I haven’t
seen Mr X nor have I stopped the certification.They are making presumptions and
telling lies about my role in the film’s certification.Let me repeat, on my
initiative without anyone’s pressure I’ve issued the certification. Why are
producers seeking cheap publicity by maligning the CBFC?
Why are
some members of the CBFC persistently attacking you?
I don’t want
to dignify their baseless allegations by responding. I am not accountable to
them. I am answerable only to the I &B
ministry. My integrity is not negotiable.I repeat I haven’t even seen Mr
X. Board members who viewed and certified the film would be better equipped to
address the producers’ grievances. Or better still let them file a RTI(Right To
Information) against the CBFC. We are willing to show all the papers regarding
any film.My work methods are completely transparent. I am willing to answer any
allegation blow by blow.
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