BOMBAY TIMES (February 5, 2018)

Over the last two days, news has been rife that Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee’s Aiyaary might not release on Friday, February 9. The Neeraj Pandey directorial is reportedly stuck for the lack of clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film’s official release date was January 26, which was realigned to February 9 to avoid a clash with a big-ticket period drama. Despite an excess two-week window before its release, the film’s makers haven’t been able to procure a clearance certificate even five days before its due date.

Aiyaary is a thriller revolving around a senior Army officer and his protégé who develop ideological differences. Sources close to the film revealed that since it has Army as the backdrop, officials from the Ministry of Defence wanted to watch the film before its certification. The movie was screened for the defence personnel and the Revising Committee in Delhi on Saturday. Rumours are that while the Revising Committee members felt that it needed to be passed with a U/A certificate, the ministry officials felt it required a few cuts before any clearance. According to a source, “Multiple scenes have been a point of debate and the film’s team has been asked to modify the objectionable parts. The body however is being tight-lipped about the content of the scenes.”

According to another source, the cuts are yet to be officially communicated to the film’s makers although they have been intimated about them, and the team is not too pleased with the amendments suggested. “There’s not much time left for the film’s release. It will take a day for the makers to make the changes that have been asked for. Only if everything goes smoothly and on time, can they expect the certificate to reach them by late on Tuesday evening or early on Wednesday morning. This can have an impact on the film’s international release because prints have to be dispatched and that can’t be done without attaching the final certificate,” says the source.

When we reached out to Jayantilal Gada, one of the producers of the film, he confirmed the developments and said, “We are yet to get a written communication about the changes that we are expected to incorporate in the film. So, we don’t yet have clarity on whether the film can release on the scheduled date or not.”
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Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 9, 2018)

Neeraj Pandey's Aiyaary is staring at yet another hurdle that may keep it away from cinema halls this Friday. The Sidharth Malhotra-Manoj Bajpayee starrer, which was initially slated for a Republic Day release and was eventually pushed to February 9, is likely to be delayed by another week owing to changes recommended by the Defence Ministry. This development comes in light of the special screening that was held for the organisation over the weekend.

Less than a week prior to its release, the Defence Ministry expressed its wish to review the film as it is set against the backdrop of Indian Army. A special screening was held on Saturday in Delhi by the Revising Committee of Ministry of I&B, which was attended by officials from Defence Ministry and members of the Central Board of Film Certification. It has been learnt that the body asked for five cuts in the drama. The last-minute changes have sent the makers back to the editing table.

Co-producer Jayantilal Gada admitted that the film, in all likelihood, wouldn't hit theatres on Friday. "There's a strong chance that Aiyaary will be postponed to February 16. The team will submit the film to the CBFC only after making the recommended changes. The overseas delivery of the film looks difficult, considering we won't have the censor certificate in time. That will, in turn, affect the India release."

While one wonders what prompted the MoD to watch the drama, a source revealed that it was a hush-hush meeting, with only the director representing the film. Gada confirmed the news stating, "There were a few modifications, which we are incorporating." If Pandey's team is unable to meet the deadline, Akshay Kumar's Pad Man will enjoy a solo release on February 9.