After Anurag Kashyap won a legal battle against censor board in regard to "Udta Punjab," the Central Board of Film Certification has refused certification of another movie of the same film-maker. Upcoming movie "Haraamkhor," starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and co-produced by Anurag, has been denied certification by the censor board on "moral grounds."
Directed by debutant director Shlok Sharma, "Haraamkhor" is a story about a married teacher and a teenage student's affair. Explaining the reason behind not certifying the movie, a member of the censor board told the Telegraph, "It has an objectionable theme that goes against Indian culture and values, and therefore, cannot be certified."
"They also had some objections with the depiction of children making lewd gestures, using profanities and committing acts of violence. The film-makers can challenge the decision," another CBFC official told the daily. The trailer of "Haraamkhor" was, however, cleared by the board in April last year, following which the movie had received appreciation at film festivals around the world.
Anurag and the makers of the movie are now planning to approach the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. "The options for us are either to go to the revising committee or to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal. Anurag is of the view that we should go to the latter. The revising committee will be directly under Pahlaj Nihalani (CBFC chairman) where the film is likely to get stuck," co-producer Guneet Monga said.
Monga also pointed out that the film does not have any intimate scene that would go against Indian sensibilities. "These things happen in real life. I don't understand why the CBFC feels the subject is against Indian sensibilities when there is not even a single scene of physical intimacy between the actors," the report quoted him saying.
The movie "Haraamkhor" features Nawazuddin as a married teacher and Shweta Tripathi plays the character of a teenage student.
Earlier, the censor board had recommended 13 cuts along with "A" certificate for Anurag's "Udta Punjab" and the makers of the movie had challenged the decision at the Bombay High Court.
The high court had announced its verdict in favour of the film-makers and ordered that "Udta Punjab" be given "A" certificate with just one cut and a fresh disclaimer.
