Subhash K Jha (DNA; July 10, 2017)

Anurag Basu intended this Friday release — Jagga Jasoos — to be a big wide-screen fantasy aimed specially at children. So, he isn’t likely to be happy with the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) verdict.

On Friday, in what must rank as one of the swiftest censorial certifying moves, Jagga Jasoos was granted ‘U/A’ with no cuts. “The film was submitted for certification on Thursday, and was cleared on Friday afternoon,” says a source.

However, this show of dexterity by the CBFC hasn’t gone down well with the team of Jagga Jasoos. A source close to director Anurag Basu bemoans, “We wonder what the censor board saw in Jagga Jasoos that made it suitable for children only accompanied by an adult.” The movie, which was in the making for around four years, is about a boy’s journey to find his father.

However, censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani defends the film’s ‘U/A’ certification arguing, “Let the film release. The world will see why we think it is necessary for children to be accompanied by an adult.”

Filmmaker questions Censor Board dictum
Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; August 24, 2016)

Zoya Akhtar has spoken out against the new format of movie submissions introduced by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to curb piracy. CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani recently made it mandatory for films to be submitted in an encrypted form — DCP or digital cinema package, which is password-protected and time-coded following back-to-back leak of films pre-release. While one producers’ body welcomed the move, another raised alarm over the “expensive” option (as reported ‘IMPPA slams Censor Board over DCP’, in hitlist on August 12).

During a media interaction, Zoya said, “It can be costly for small time and regional producers, but I don’t know the money part of it. However, DCP isn’t the answer to piracy. Many a time, films get leaked during post production stage; the studio staff gets paid to do so. So, what we need are strict laws
to curb piracy. Also, there should be more screens and low ticket pricing.”

The filmmaker says offenders should get exemplary punishment. “The government should treat piracy as a non- bailable offense. That’s how the industry will grow, and not the business of bootleggers.” Zoya also talked about starting her own production house. “I am a writer-director, so beyond a point, I need to own my work to be able to sustain. We are like freelancers and it is better to have another production house. I will co-produce my next with Farhan (Akhtar, brother) and Ritesh (Sidhwani). I am co-writing it with Reema (Kagti),” she adds.

Zoya admits there are no plans to make a sequel to her last directorial venture, Dil Dahdakne Do. She is also not ready to talk about her next film, Gully Boys, with Ranveer Singh. She, in fact, says the casting is yet to be done. “As far as Ranveer goes, we would be happy to work together.” Is a collaboration with Ranbir Kapoor on the cards too? “We have to been talking about a film for a while, but I can’t tell you more. Hopefully, at some point, we will work together. I am keen to work with him,” she says.

Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 24, 2015)

Mirror was the first to report (March 28, 2015) that the Central Board of Film Certification has refused to give a 'U' certificate to Imtiaz Ali's Alia Bhatt-Randeep Hooda starrer thus preventing its telecast on national broadcaster Doordarshan.

Now, Mirror has learnt that after being refused the certificate by the Revising Committee - two of the Board members had problems with the film's depiction of child molestation - producer Sajid Nadiadwala has asked for a re-review of the film.

A source close to the development told Mirror, "The entire team of Highway was quite upset by the Board's snub. A file was sent to them about the cuts required but when two of the Board's member mentioned that there was a thematic problem with the film, no amount of trimming could have solved that."

And while CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani could have gone with the majority's decision, he has instead chosen to form a Re-Revising Committee for the critically-acclaimed film. "It should be screened next week with a fresh set of members," a source told Mirror.

According to DD's programming code, only films certified as 'U' can be aired on the channel while Highway released in theatres with a 'U/A.' A Revising Committee saw the film - a trimmed version with all expletives taken out - and while a majority was okay with giving a U certificate, the decision wasn't unanimous.

Confirming this, CBFC spokesperson Shravan Kumar told Mirror, "Yes, the Board has decided to re-watch the film and a Committee will be shortly formed for the screening."

The much-awaited film BANG BANG, starring Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, was passed by the Censor Board on September 23, 2014. The film has got a U/A certificate and the following cuts. The following changes were made in the film, as asked by the Board Deleted the following words:
1. The word 'Kutto' was replaced with the approved word 'Bhukko'
2. The word 'Bhikariyon' was replaced with the approved word 'Makkaron'
3. The word 'Mantri' was replaced with the approved word 'Kuch Neta'
4. The word 'Nanga' was replaced with 'Nagna'
5. The word 'Bhikari' was replaced with the approved word 'Makkar'

The duration of the film is 156 minutes. The film releases on October 2, 2014