CBFC Cuts Words like ‘Pradhan Mantri’ & ‘Chaiwala’ from Murderbaad
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been in the news lately for its strict guidelines and cuts in Bollywood films. The latest controversy involves the film ‘Murderbaad’, which has been instructed to edit out words like ‘pradhan mantri’ and ‘chaiwala’ from a dialogue. The CBFC has deemed these words inappropriate and has given the film an ‘A’ certification.
The film’s director, Arnab Chatterjee, has expressed his disappointment and disagreement with the CBFC’s decision. According to Chatterjee, the dialogue in question was meant to be a benign joke and was not intended to be political in nature. He believes that the CBFC has misinterpreted the context of the dialogue and has unnecessarily cut out words that are commonly used in everyday Indian language.
The dialogue in question is a conversation between two characters, where one of them says, “Maine pradhan mantri banne ki soch rakhi hai” (I am thinking of becoming the Prime Minister). The other character responds by saying, “Toh tum chaiwala ho jao” (Then you will become a tea vendor). The intention behind this dialogue was to highlight the aspirations of lower-middle-class individuals who dream big, despite their humble circumstances.
Chatterjee maintains that the dialogue was not meant to be taken seriously and was intended to be a humorous and relatable commentary on Indian society. He believes that the CBFC has misinterpreted the tone and context of the dialogue and has unnecessarily cut out words that are commonly used in everyday Indian language.
The CBFC’s decision to cut out these words has raised questions about the board’s understanding of Indian culture and language. The use of words like ‘pradhan mantri’ and ‘chaiwala’ is a common phenomenon in Indian society, and it is hard to understand why the CBFC would deem them inappropriate.
The dispute between the CBFC and the film’s director highlights the complexities of censorship in India. While the CBFC has a responsibility to ensure that films do not promote obscenity, violence, or anti-social behavior, it is equally important to ensure that the board does not overstep its boundaries and restrict artistic expression.
In recent years, the CBFC has been criticized for its strict guidelines and cuts in Bollywood films. The board has been accused of imposing its own moral and cultural standards on filmmakers, rather than allowing them to tell their stories in their own way.
The controversy surrounding ‘Murderbaad’ is just the latest in a long line of disputes between the CBFC and filmmakers. In recent years, the board has been criticized for cutting out scenes and dialogues that it deems inappropriate, including references to Indian politics and culture.
The CBFC’s decision to cut out words like ‘pradhan mantri’ and ‘chaiwala’ from ‘Murderbaad’ is a classic example of the board’s overreach. The use of these words is a common phenomenon in Indian society, and it is hard to understand why the CBFC would deem them inappropriate.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding ‘Murderbaad’ highlights the complexities of censorship in India. While the CBFC has a responsibility to ensure that films do not promote obscenity, violence, or anti-social behavior, it is equally important to ensure that the board does not overstep its boundaries and restrict artistic expression.
Sources:
