Latest news with #TheMonkWhoBecameChiefMinister
Hans India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Movie On Adityanath: Censors to take a call in 2 days
Mumbai: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that it will decide in two days the applications filed by the makers of a movie purportedly based on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's life, seeking certification. A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale initially rapped the CBFC, commonly known as the censor board, for 'sitting on the application' and not passing the order within the timeline prescribed in the rules. Pursuant to this, the board told the high court that the applications would be decided within two days and the makers would be informed about the decision. The bench accepted the statement and disposed of the petition filed by the makers of the film. Samrat Cinematics, in its plea filed in the HC, questioned the CBFC's 'arbitrary, unreasonable, and unexplained' delay in processing the certification applications for its film -- Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, including its teaser, trailer and promotional song. The plea claimed that the CBFC had also sought for a No Objection Certificate from the office of the Uttar Pradesh CM. Senior counsel Ravi Kadam and advocates Satatya Anand and Nikhil Aradhe told the court that as per the rules, the application seeking certification has to be decided within five days. "The petitioner has in fact sought priority clearance and has paid three times the amount," Kadam told the court. The bench then said that the censor board has to follow the timeline. "You cannot sit on an application especially when they have paid the priority charges. The application has to be decided," the HC said. The movie, inspired by the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, which is purportedly based on Yogi Adityanath's life, was scheduled for a theatrical release on August 1.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
CBFC assures Bombay High Court of decision on certification for film on Yogi Adityanath in two working days
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday (July 17, 2025) informed the Bombay High Court that it would take a decision within two working days on the certification applications filed by the makers of a film, inspired by the life of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. A Division Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale, while hearing a petition filed by Samrat Cinematics India Pvt. Ltd, expressed displeasure over the delay in certification and questioned the board's failure to act within the prescribed timelines under the Cinematograph Act and the new Certification Rules, 2024. The filmmakers moved the High Court alleging 'arbitrary and unexplained' inaction by the CBFC though the application for certification of the film 'Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi' as well as its teaser, trailer and promotional song was made on June 5. The film, inspired by the book 'The Monk Who Became Chief Minister', is scheduled for release on August 1. Representing the petitioner, senior advocate Ravi Kadam pointed out the CBFC's purported demand for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office, asserting that there is no mention of such a requirement in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 or the Certification Rules, 2024. The CBFC's counsel submitted to the Bench that they will consider the application within two working days and communicate the same, on the same day or the next day. The court recorded the submission and observed, 'The petitioner essentially seeks direction from CBFC to decide certification within a period not exceeding five days. A letter sent to applicant intimating the same is taken on record. In view of the statement that the process will be completed and the application will be decided, nothing survives in the petition. The decision taken by the CBFC has to be intimated on the same day. Petition is disposed of.' The petitioners said they initially submitted their application for certification on June 5. Under Rule 37 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the CBFC is obligated to examine the application within seven days and schedule a screening within 15 days. However, no action was taken for nearly a month, prompting further steps from the petitioners. On July 3, following advice from CBFC officials, the filmmakers re-applied under the 'priority scheme' and paid three times the usual fee as stipulated under Rule 33(2). Although a screening was slated for July 7, it was cancelled abruptly a day before, with no explanation or follow-up communication. When the filmmakers checked the application status on July 12, they found it marked as 'Incomplete' with an unclear instruction to 'Provide Documentary Evidence', without any specifics on what documents were required. The petition alleged that the CBFC's conduct was arbitrary and had resulted in serious commercial and reputational damage, especially with the film's August 1 release date looming. The filmmakers also pointed out that the film draws inspiration from the widely circulated 2017 book 'The Monk Who Became Chief Minister' by Shantanu Gupta, which has been translated into 12 languages and is publicly available. The petition noted that the book had received an official endorsement from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office and that the film offers a respectful and fact-based depiction of the Chief Minister's public life. Arguing that the CBFC's delays and opaque conduct infringed upon their constitutional rights, the petitioners invoked Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution, citing violations of their rights to equality, free speech, profession, and personal liberty.
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Will film on Yogi Adityanath get central board's nod? Decision on 'Ajey' in 2 days
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday submitted before the Bombay High Court that it will take a decision on the request made by makers of the film 'Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi' within the next two working bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale accepted the statement made by the CBFC and asked when the same would be communicated to the filmmakers, Samrat Cinematics India Private advocate AS Khandeparkar, appearing for the CBFC, said that as an abundant precaution, it would be communicated by July 22, but the board would try to hand it over a day earlier by July 21. Before this assurance, advocates Ravi Kadam, Satatya Anand and Nikhil Aradhe appearing for the filmmaker noted that, "We had applied under a priority process. The charges for priority are three times more than the normal charges. Within 5 days they had to take a decision. I am suffering every day. The international release of my film is on August 1."The bench also noted that the question is whether the CBFC can ask for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) while noting that the CBFC has the prerogative to grant or not grant the certificate, but it cannot sit on after Khandeparkar's submissions, the bench disposed of the makers stated that the film is inspired by the book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, authored by Shantanu Gupta, which is based on the life and public leadership of a contemporary political figure, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi filmmakers claimed that the CBFC had demanded a NOC from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) of Uttar Pradesh. They said this was an 'erroneous, extraneous, and baseless demand, despite there being no such requirement under the statute, that is, the Cinematograph Act or the rules framed thereunder.'- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Mumbai#Uttar Pradesh#Yogi Adityanath
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
CBFC to decide on certifying film on UP CM Yogi Adityanath within 2 working days, Bombay HC disposes of makers' plea
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Thursday told the Bombay High Court that it will decide within two working days an application for certification by makers of a movie purportedly based on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Samrat Cinematics India Pvt Ltd, the makers of the movie, Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, had approached the high court earlier this month, claiming delay by CBFC in clearing the movie and had sought that the same be done, preferably within five days. On Wednesday, a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela K Gokhale, while issuing notice to CBFC, had orally remarked that the Board was required to issue certification within a time period laid down in law. Senior advocate Ravi Kadam for petitioners had claimed that CBFC had indulged in 'unreasonable, unexplained and arbitrary' delay in processing the application for the film and its teaser, trailer, and promotional song. The petitioners said the movie, inspired by the book, The Monk Who Became Chief Minister, authored by Shantanu Gupta, was scheduled to be released in theatres on August 1. Kadam added that CBFC had not yet scheduled a screening of the movie, teaser, and the promotional song. He further said that the book which formed the inspiration for the movie has been officially endorsed by the UP Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The makers told the court that they first applied for certification of the main film on June 5, 2025, and as per the Rules, CBFC was required to examine their application within seven days and refer it for screening within 15 days. However, no action was taken for nearly a month. The makers further said that they had again applied under the 'priority scheme' and a screening was scheduled on July 7, but the same was cancelled without any further correspondence, prompting them to approach the high court. The high court, in view of the CBFC statement, noted that 'nothing survived for consideration in the petition,' however, CBFC will have to take a decision and communicate it the same day. Stating that it did not comment on the merits of the matter, the HC disposed of the plea.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
CBFC to decide in two days pleas seeking certification for film on UP CM Yogi Adityanath
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that it will decide in two days the applications filed by the makers of a movie purportedly based on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's life, seeking certification. A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale initially rapped the CBFC, commonly known as the censor board, for "sitting on the application" and not passing the order within the timeline prescribed in the rules. You Can't Just Sit on It: HC to CBFC Pursuant to this, the board told the high court that the applications would be decided within two days and the makers would be informed about the decision. The bench accepted the statement and disposed of the petition filed by the makers of the film. Samrat Cinematics, in its plea filed in the HC, questioned the CBFC's "arbitrary, unreasonable, and unexplained" delay in processing the certification applications for its film - "Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi", including its teaser, trailer and promotional song. The plea claimed that the CBFC had also sought for a No Objection Certificate from the office of the Uttar Pradesh CM. The petitioner has in fact sought priority clearance Senior counsel Ravi Kadam and advocates Satatya Anand and Nikhil Aradhe told the court that as per the rules, the application seeking certification has to be decided within five days. "The petitioner has in fact sought priority clearance and has paid three times the amount," Kadam told the court. The bench then said that the censor board has to follow the timeline. "You cannot sit on an application especially when they have paid the priority charges. The application has to be decided," the HC said. The movie, inspired by the book 'The Monk Who Became Chief Minister', which is purportedly based on Yogi Adityanath's life, was scheduled for a theatrical release on August 1. As per the plea, the CBFC has till date not even scheduled a screening of the movie, teaser and promotional song. The CBFC has grossly failed to act upon the application(s) within the statutory timelines laid down under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the plea said. The makers also questioned the CBFC's "erroneous, extraneous and baseless" demand for a No Objection Certificate from the Uttar Pradesh CM's office, and said there is no such requirement in law. The petition states that the filmmakers first applied for certification of the main film on June 5, 2025. As per Rule 37 of the Certification Rules, the CBFC is required to scrutinise applications within seven days and refer the film for screening within 15 days. Despite this, no action was taken for nearly a month. On July 3, the petitioners reapplied under the 'priority scheme' and paid three times the standard fee as per Rule 33(2), following advice from CBFC officials. A screening was scheduled for July 7, but was abruptly cancelled the day before, without any further communication.
