Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 24, 2017)

If you’ve seen Noor, you would know that Sonakshi Sinha drinks heartily in the film. In fact, there’s so much booze-binging in the film, the censor board of Singapore has clamped down on the otherwise innocuous film, granting it the draconian NC16 rating which means ‘No Children Under 16 Allowed’.

In India, Noor got a ‘UA’, which means children of all ages could watch the film as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Censor chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani says, “The Central Board of Film Certification is accused of being ultra-conservative. But we are far more liberal than the censor boards in many parts of the world. Though tobacco and alcohol consumption is restricted by censors the world over, we allow it because if we don’t, we’re called prudes. On the other hand, we’re being questioned on why so much alcohol consumption is allowed in Noor. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.”

Pahlaj is quick to point out that “In Singapore, they were reluctant to grant the film a censor certificate at all. They did so just hours before release, giving it an NC16.”