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Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Creativity Meets Censorship: The Board's Role in Cinema Today
In the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) remains a formidable force, often dictating the final version of films that reach the audience. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the board's mandate is to ensure content aligns with societal norms and sensitivities, its interventions have frequently sparked debates about artistic freedom and censorship. Recent instances highlight the extent to which the CBFC's decisions influence both domestic and international films, sometimes even preventing their release altogether. Dhadak 2: Navigating Caste Sensitivities The much-anticipated Dhadak 2, starring and Triptii Dimri, serves as a poignant example of the CBFC's influence. As a remake of the Tamil anti-caste film Pariyerum Perumal, Dhadak 2 faced significant scrutiny. The CBFC mandated 16 substantial edits, addressing political, caste-based, and religious sensitivities. These changes included the removal or modification of potentially controversial content, adjustments to references involving caste, and alterations to visual elements. Additionally, some violent scenes were toned down, and appropriate disclaimers were added. Udta Punjab: A Battle for Creative Expression In 2016, Udta Punjab, a film delving into the state's drug crisis, became a focal point in the censorship debate. The CBFC initially demanded 94 cuts, citing concerns over explicit content and the portrayal of Punjab. The board argued that setting the film in Punjab would damage the region's reputation and discourage tourism and investment. The filmmakers challenged this decision, and the Bombay High Court eventually cleared the film with just one cut, emphasizing the importance of creative freedom. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now L2: Empuraan: L2: Empuraan, a Malayalam film starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj , faced its own set of challenges. The CBFC first cleared the film with U/A certificate but the growing backlash from right wing led to filmmakers voluntarily making 24 cuts to the film totalling 2.08 minutes. Cuts included edits to riot sequences, portrayal of violence against women, and changes to character names and visuals. Notably, the antagonist's name was changed from Balraj to Baldev to avoid associations with real-life figures involved in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The film's depiction of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was also modified, with references to the agency being muted. These alterations were made to address concerns about political and social themes in the film. International Films: Facing the CBFC's Gatekeeping The CBFC's influence extends beyond domestic productions. Santosh, a British-Indian film directed by , was blocked from release in India reportedly due to its depiction of police brutality, misogyny, and caste discrimination. Despite international acclaim, including accolades at Cannes and an Oscar nomination, the film was banned in India over concerns about its negative portrayal of the police. Suri expressed disappointment, noting that significant cuts demanded by the censors would undermine the film's integrity. Similarly, Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man, faced hurdles in India. The CBFC reportedly avoided screening the movie altogether, with banning or suggesting cuts being a secondary consideration. The film, which includes themes of revenge against corrupt officials and draws from Hindu mythology, was released internationally but remains unreleased in India due to the lack of certification. Singham Again: Modifying Mythological References Rohit Shetty's Singham Again underwent several cuts to secure a U/A censor board asked Rohit Shetty's film team to make several modifications before release, mainly around religious and sensitive content. A 23-second sequence comparing Singham (Ajay Devgn), Avni (Kareena Kapoor), and Simmba (Ranveer Singh) with Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lord Hanuman was altered. Another 23-second scene showing Singham touching Lord Ram's feet was also modified. A 16-second scene of Raavan grabbing and pushing Sita was entirely deleted. A 29-second reference to Lord Hanuman burning Lanka, paired with a flirtatious line from Simmba, was removed. Arjun Kapoor's character Zubair's dialogues were edited at four places, including one where he compares himself to Raavan. Kareena Kapoor's lines as Avni were modified as well. Visuals of a Constitutional head and their lines were deleted in two instances. Citing diplomatic concerns, a 26-second sequence involving dialogue and visuals related to a neighbouring country was removed. A violent police station murder scene showing a beheading was blurred. Additionally, the colour of a religious flag in two scenes was changed, and the 'Shiv Stotra' hymn was deleted from the background score. These cuts aimed to tone down religious, political, and violent sensitivities before the film's public release. Punjab '95: A Story Yet to Be Told Punjab '95, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and starring , remains unreleased in India. The CBFC suggested 120 cuts, leading to delays and disputes. Dosanjh expressed his support for the film only if released without cuts, emphasizing the importance of preserving its message. Back in February of this year, during his Instagram live, Diljit said 'I hope the film gets released in India soon. I will support only that film that will be released fully without any cuts. If you release the film without cuts I will come, otherwise with cuts it doesn't matter. I hope some solution will come out and it will release in Punjab.' He also shared that the potential of Punjab'95 will decline if it is released with cuts and it simply defeats the purpose of the film's criticized the CBFC's demands as 'unreasonable and politically coloured', stating his commitment to his film and film has still not released. Emergency: A Political Drama in Limbo Kangana Ranaut's directorial venture, Emergency, faced delays due to the non-issuance of a censor certificate. The film, depicting the Emergency period in India, was caught up in controversy after Sikh organizations accused it of misrepresenting the community. Ranaut accused the film body of stalling certification to delay the release. Despite all the back and forth and months of drama, the matter was settled with just a 1-minute cut. Conclusion: Balancing Sensitivity and Creativity The CBFC's role in shaping Indian cinema is undeniable. While its mandate is to ensure content aligns with societal norms, the extent of its interventions often raises questions about artistic freedom. As filmmakers continue to push boundaries and explore complex themes, the balance between sensitivity and creativity remains a contentious issue. The ongoing dialogue between creators and censors is crucial in navigating this complex landscape, ensuring that cinema remains a reflective and thought-provoking medium.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dhadak 2 OTT Release Update: Where to watch Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri's romantic film after theatres
Dhadak 2 OTT Release Update: Following a tedious journey through production challenges and censorship hurdles, this Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri starrer has finally locked a release date - August 1, 2025. This romantic drama is a Hindi adaptation of the critically acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018), directed by Mari Selvaraj. For all the OTT lovers, Dhadak 2 will be streaming on Netflix after its theatrical run concludes. Dhadak 2 underwent some serious censorship changes The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted Dhadak 2 a U/A certificate, but only after the filmmakers implemented 16 substantial edits. These modifications addressed concerns related to political, caste-based, and religious sensitivities. Notable changes included the removal of a Tulsidas couplet from a song, softening of a scene depicting a father's insult, and a nearly two-minute disclaimer at the film's outset. These alterations were essential for the film to align with CBFC guidelines and secure approval for public release. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 also stars Vipin Sharma, Saurabh Sachdeva, Deeksha Joshi, Dishank Arora, Harish Khanna and Manjiri Pupala among others. The screenplay and dialogues are penned by Rahul Badwelkar and Shazia Iqbal. This is a thematic continuum While the original Dhadak (2018) was a remake of the Marathi film Sairat, Dhadak 2 draws its inspiration from Pariyerum Perumal. This 2018 Tamil film revolved around Pariyan, a young man from an oppressed caste who aspires to become a lawyer. He enrols in a law college where he meets Jo, a naive and friendly girl from an upper-caste Hindu family. As their friendship deepens, the societal repercussions of their bond begin to surface. Pariyan is constantly reminded of his social identity, facing humiliation, systemic bias, and physical violence. The film doesn't shy away from showing the brutal realities of caste discrimination in both overt and subtle forms. Dhadak 2 had reportedly taken it to a whole new level, which was toned down by the CBFC.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
CBFC clears Dhadak 2 after 16 cuts, including altered anti-caste references
Scenes featuring caste-based discrimination like slurs and violence in the film Dhadak 2 were removed or modified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), clearing the way for the film's release months after its original release date. The title, starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi is a remake of the Tamil anti-caste film Pariyerum Perumal, which was released in 2018 with four cuts, compared to the sixteen modifications Dhadak 2 has had to undergo. The Hindu reviewed the certificates issued to both films. Also Read | 'Santosh', U.K.'s official Oscar entry, blocked by CBFC for Indian theatrical release The film has been rated 'U/A 16+', the second highest maturity classification below 'A'. The film was originally supposed to release in November 2024, but its release was later postponed to March, a date it also missed. One dialogue in Hindi — '3,000 years of backlog will not be cleared in just 70 years.' — was changed to, 'The backlog of age-old discrimination will not be cleared in just 70 years.' A dialogue featuring what appears to be a reference to an analogy by the Bahujan Samaj Party's founder Kanshi Ram was reworked. That analogy draws a parallel between the nib of a pen (representing upper castes) and the rest of it. Ram would frequently bring this analogy up to advocate for a change in the social order. The dialogue in the film, 'Nilesh ye kalam dekh rahe ho...., Raaj kar rahe hain' (the CBFC did not reproduce the full dialogue, which translates to, 'Nilesh [the protagonist], you see this pen … [they] are ruling.'), was replaced with, 'Yeh chota sa dhakkan puri qalam ka thoda sa hissa hai aur baki ke hai hum phir bhi hamare sir per baithe hua hai kyu.' The new dialogue translates to: 'This small lid is a small part of the whole pen, but it sits on our heads. Why?' A five second shot of someone urinating on Nilesh was censored. The use of caste names as slurs — namely 'chamar' and 'bhangi' — have been muted and replaced with 'junglee,' respectively. One of the cuts says that the 'Blue colour of the dog was removed'. The original film features a mystical sequence where a brutally killed dog's blue-coloured spirit rescues the protagonist. In another scene, sixteen seconds of a three minute scene featuring the 'humiliation of Nilesh's father' was cut. A line saying, 'Dharam ka kaam hai,' ('this is religious work'), was replaced with 'Punya ka kaam hai' ('this is [work toward] a good deed'). One description of a cut indicates a replacement involving the poem Thakur ka Kuan (the Thakur's well), written by Om Prakash Valmiki. It is unclear if this poem was replaced, or if this poem replaced a different one. Broadly, the poem explores upper caste control of resources, and lower caste alienation from them. Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Manoj Jha read the poem in Parliament in 2023. One more dialogue, reproduced only partially by the CBFC as 'Savarnon ke sadak … humein jala dete the.' ('The savarana's street(s) … they would burn us [alive]'), was replaced with 'Na Sadke hamari thin a zameen hamari thin a paani hamar tha yaha tak ki zindagi bhi hamari nahi thi marne ki naubat aayi to shaher aagaya,' translating to 'Neither were the streets ours, nor was the land, nor the water, nor even the life; I was on the verge of death, so I came to the city.' A 20 second disclaimer before the film was replaced with a one minute 51 second version, read out loud. The CBFC did not list the content of either the original disclaimer or the new one. One instance of a swear word was muted, and a scene featuring violence against a woman was replaced with a 'black screen'. In one song, a doha by Tulsidas was replaced. The doha is translated by the author Ajai Kumar Chhawchharia as, 'On the banks of a river in Chitrakoot, there is a crowd of saints and holy people. Tulsidas is rubbing sandalwood to make a paste, and Raghubir (Lord Ram) uses this paste to make the mark of the Tilak on their foreheads.' The replacement is a couplet which roughly translates to, 'Shoot arrows that may seem small but inflict great damage when they hit.' The couplet resembles a verse describing the 17th century poet Bihari's work, but its first line is different.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Veteran actor Super Good Subramani passes away; final rites to be held today in Chennai
Veteran Tamil actor Super Good passed away yesterday (May 10) at the age of 58 after a prolonged battle with cancer. He had been receiving treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai, where he was admitted in critical condition last week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Doctors confirmed that he was in the final stage of cancer and that it had spread throughout his body, including his brain. Despite intensive care, his health declined rapidly, leading to his demise. From assistant director to respected actor in Tamil cinema Subramani began his career in the film industry as an assistant director under noted filmmakers such as Saravana Subbiah and Pavithran. Although he aspired to become a director, the lack of opportunities forced him to pivot to acting. Over the past three decades, he carved a niche for himself as a reliable supporting actor, appearing in critically acclaimed films like 'Pariyerum Perumal,' 'Kaala,' 'Pisasu,' 'Rajini Murugan,' 'Jai Bhim,' and 'Vaanam Kottattum.' He also played the lead role in the film Paramaan. His long-standing association with the Super Good Films banner earned him the nickname 'Super Good Subramani.' Continued passion for cinema despite health and financial struggles Even in his final months, Subramani remained active in the industry. He recently lent his voice for dubbing in a film titled 'Commandovin Love Story', doing so voluntarily despite his illness. His family had earlier appealed for financial help, revealing that they were struggling with the burden of medical expenses. His dedication to cinema, even in the face of hardship, has been widely appreciated by those who knew him. Final rites today; Industry mourns a humble and dedicated talent Subramani is survived by his wife, a daughter studying in Class 11, and a son in Class 9. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per News 18, his mortal remains were brought to his residence in West Mambalam last night. The final rites will be held today in Chennai. Members of the film fraternity and fans have been paying their respects and expressing condolences over the loss of a committed and humble artist.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Mari Selvaraj-Dhruv Vikram's Bison Kaalamaadan gets Diwali release
Reportedly a sports drama based on kabaddi, Bison Kaalamaadan is produced by Pa Ranjith and Aditi Anand under their Neelam Studios banner, alongside Sameer Nair and Deepak Segal of Applause Entertainment. The film also stars Lal, Pasupathy, Rajisha Vijayan, Kalaiyarasan, Hari Krishnan Anbudurai, Azhagam Perumal, and Madhan Dhakshinamoorthy. According to reports, the film is based on the life of Arjuna Awardee Manathi Ganesan, but the makers are yet to confirm the same. It reunites director Mari Selvaraj with producer Pa Ranjith after their critically acclaimed 2018 film Pariyerum Perumal. Describing the film as his "next collaboration with the incredibly talented Mari Selvaraj," Ranjith wrote, "This film is raw, real, and made with so much love. It's a story that's close to both our hearts." It marks the debut of editor Sakthi Thiru. For your information, Sakthi Thiru worked as an associate editor with filmmaker Mari's frequent collaborator, editor Selva RK of Pariyerum Perumal, Karnan, and Maamannan.
