Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 26, 2015)

The new Akshay Kumar starrer Gabbar Is Back was given a censor clearance in record time this week. The film was given a ‘UA’ certification with five verbal cuts. Says a source from the CBFC, “The film came to us very late for certification. In fact Piku, which is to be released a week after Gabbar Is Back, came to us earlier. The movie had to be certified out of turn to ensure the release didn’t get affected.”

The five verbal cuts, all mildly abusive terms, have been asked to be beeped out. These include the oft-used word ‘saala’ which is no longer permissible in films open to kids. Not too long ago multiple award-winning director Sudhir Mishra even made a film titled Yeh Saali Zindagi.

Says the Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, “I am aware that earlier the word saala was allowed. But random use of unparliamentary language will now be discouraged in films open to children specially those starring iconic role models like Akshay Kumar. As for submitting films late for certification we are now in the process of starting a formal on-priority certification service for filmmakers in a hurry.”