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Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 27, 2016)

Enlarge ImageAfter being refused certification by the the Examining Committee (EC) of the Central Board of Film Certification, small-budget Gujarati film Salagto Sawaal Anamat, allegedly based on the Hardik Patel pro-reservation agitation across Gujarat, has been denied a censor certificate by the Revising Committee (RC).

The film now has a choice either of going to the Tribunal or it can take a leaf from Udta Punjab’s book and approach the courts. However, it is unlikely that in this case, considering the political sensitivity of the issue, the filmmakers would be able to exercise their legal options to get their film released. “For all practical purposes the Gujarati film based on Hardik Patel’s reservation agitation stands banned,” says a source in the know.

Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s Mohalla Assi, a hard-hitting indictment of commercialisation in Varanasi, also stands banned. Says an informed source, “The film was refused certification by the Examining Committee. The Revising Committee (RC) which viewed the film this week, has also refused to certify the film.”

It will be interesting to see which way these two politically-charged films go as far as censor certification is concerned.