Subhash K Jha (DNA; March 24, 2017)

Anushka Sharma’s second production Phillauri has encountered roadblocks at the censor board. The film satirises superstition and blind faith by showing an NRI being married to a tree, and a ghost stalking the NRI thereafter.

According to CBFC guidelines, superstitions are not to be promoted through cinema. However, the film has been passed with one notable cut and with an U/A certification.

CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani defends the decision. “In my opinion it’s not the CBFC’s job to sit in judgment on the content of a film. We can only make amends in the presentation of the content. Not propagating superstition and blind faith falls in the jurisdiction of the State government. If we sat judgement over films on ghosts then we’d have to question why classics like Mahal, Gumnam, Woh Kaun Thi and Lekin were passed.”

The CBFC has asked the producers of Phillauri to add a lengthy disclaimer at the beginning saying they do not subscribe to any of the superstitions shown in the film nor do they believe in ghosts.

Also, a lengthy sequence showing actor Suraj Sharma reciting the Hanuman Chalisa in the bath tub in a ghost’s presence has been asked to go from the supernatural satire. The CBFC is said to have found the sequence incongruous since ghosts are supposed to be eradicated not pacified with the recital of the Hanuman Chalisa.

“This amounted to hurting of religious sentiments,” says a source adding, “The CBFC has asked for the Hanuman Chalisa to be removed from the soundtrack. All the audience will hear now is Suraj long droning chant which would be inaudible.”

The CBFC also seems to be sympathetic to snakes. It has asked the makers to insert a scroll in a sequence featuring a snake to indicate no real snake has been hurt in the sequence, that it’s all computer graphics.